Legendary music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been charged by federal prosecutors with abusing women in a sweeping indictment unsealed Tuesday in New York.
Combs, who has been under scrutiny for years, has denied wrongdoing, but prosecutors say Combs used his business to exploit women, using or threatening force.
Key Positions
Combs faces three federal charges:
- Sex trafficking
- Racketeering
- Transportation for the purpose of prostitution
“Freak Offs”
- Combs and his associates allegedly lured female victims, often under the guise of a romantic relationship.
- Combs allegedly used force, threats of force, coercion and controlled substances to force women to engage in sexual acts with male sex workers that Combs referred to as “Freak Offs.” “Freak Offs” were elaborate sexual shows that Combs organized, directed, during which he masturbated and often electronically recorded, according to the indictment.
- Some victims were given drugs such as ketamine, GHB and ecstasy.
- During searches of Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles, authorities seized various “Freak Off” supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, according to the indictment.
- The violence left some victims injured.
Pressure, sex trafficking and bribery
- Prosecutors allege in the indictment that Combs and his associates pressured women and, in some cases, attempted to bribe them into not reporting what they experienced amid the investigation as details about his alleged conduct began to emerge.
- Combs’ alleged “criminal enterprise” threatened and abused women and used members of Combs’ enterprise to engage in sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics crimes, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
RICO Allegations
- Prosecutors say Combs was assisted by a group of company employees, security personnel and helpers. They allegedly helped organize the crime and the “disasters” and then covered up the incidents.
- They also allegedly gave cash payments to those involved.
- The RICO racketeering charge was famously applied to mob bosses like John Gotti and James “Whitey” Bulger and, more recently, to disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly.
