NOTE: The next article incorporates disturbing content material. Please learn at your individual discretion.
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday evening and indicted on federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering costs that accuse him of hitting and abusing ladies for over a decade and presiding over an empire of sexual crimes.
In a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday, Combs was charged with racketeering, intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution. The costs are tied to so-called “freak offs,” coerced intercourse acts that Combs allegedly orchestrated and recorded.
Standing to talk, after listening to the allegations whereas displaying little response, his uncuffed fingers folded in his lap, Combs pleaded not responsible.
The choose denied Combs bail and ordered he be despatched to jail whereas awaiting path.
In deciding to disclaim Combs bail, Decide Robyn F. Tarnofsky stated she has “very important considerations” about Combs’ substance abuse and “what seems to be anger points.”
Tarnofsky stated she thought of options however doesn’t suppose it’s ample as a result of a lot of what’s alleged occurred behind closed doorways.
Earlier, Combs supplied to submit a US$50 million bond to be launched from custody and likewise supplied to put on a GPS monitor whereas limiting journey to New York Metropolis and Miami, in keeping with a proposed bail bundle filed by his defence group.
Detailing allegations relationship again to 2009, the indictment accuses him of abusing, threatening and coercing ladies for years “to satisfy his sexual needs, defend his repute, and conceal his conduct.”
U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams, whose workplace is bringing the case, spoke in regards to the allegations in opposition to Combs at a information convention Tuesday morning, mentioning the “freak offs” no less than 5 instances in underneath 20 minutes.
“Combs allegedly deliberate and managed the intercourse performances, which he referred to as ‘freak offs’ and he usually electronically recorded them,” Williams instructed reporters, saying that federal prosecutors claimed they seized greater than 1,000 bottles of non-public lubricant and child oil from Combs’ property and that these have been used within the intercourse acts.
“The ‘freak offs’ generally lasted days at a time, concerned a number of business intercourse staff, and sometimes concerned quite a lot of narcotics resembling ketamine, ecstasy and GHB, which Combs distributed to the victims to maintain them obedient and compliant,” Williams defined.
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Combs can also be accused of hitting, kicking and throwing objects at victims, inflicting accidents that always took weeks to heal. It’s additionally alleged that he choked his victims, dragged them by their hair and threw individuals round.
Standing in entrance of a show board, Williams additionally shared photographs of a few of the objects authorities say have been recovered within the searches, together with AR-15s and a drum journal containing dozens of rounds of ammunition.
Williams stated two of the three AR-15s have been taken from Combs’ bed room closet in his Miami house, and had been damaged down into elements. He stated the serial numbers on the weapons had been obscured.
“To hold out this conduct, Sean Combs led and took part in a racketeering conspiracy that used the enterprise empire he managed to hold out felony exercise, together with intercourse trafficking, pressured labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and the obstruction of justice,” Williams stated in remarks that echoed the three-count indictment.
The indictment alleges that, unbeknownst to his victims, Combs would generally preserve movies he filmed of the ladies partaking in intercourse acts. Combs used the recordings “as collateral to make sure the continued obedience and silence of the victims,” the indictment stated.
As the specter of felony costs loomed, Combs and his associates additionally pressured witnesses and victims to remain silent by making an attempt to bribe them and offering them with a false narrative of occasions, in keeping with the indictment.
Prosecutors additionally stated that Combs’ staff and associates have been witness to the violence and wicked acts, however usually labored with the rap star to assist cowl up his crimes, together with stopping victims from leaving, or monitoring down people who tried to flee.
Additionally they allege that Combs’ staff helped their boss pull off the “freak offs” by reserving resort rooms, arranging journey and stocking the rooms with lubricants, linens and lighting, IV fluids and illicit medication. Prosecutors stated staff would clear the rooms when the intercourse acts, which might final days, have been completed.
In a single such 2012 incident, held inside a Manhattan resort, Combs needed to pay greater than “$46,000 to cowl damages to a penthouse room following a freak off,” the prosecution stated.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, addressed the indictment and arrest of his consumer earlier Tuesday, telling reporters that Combs wouldn’t plead responsible and insisted upon his innocence.
“Clearly, he’s going to struggle this with all of his power and all of his would possibly and the complete confidence of his legal professionals,” stated Agnifilo. “And I count on a protracted battle with a great consequence for Mr. Combs.”
Over the previous 12 months, Combs has been sued by a number of individuals who say he subjected them to bodily or sexual abuse.
— With information from The Related Press
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When you or somebody you realize is experiencing abuse or is concerned in an abusive state of affairs, please go to the Canadian Useful resource Centre for Victims of Crime for assist. They’re additionally reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
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