Why was Sean P. Diddy Combs arrested? What is he accused of

This story is about sexual assault and violence. If you or someone you know needs help, call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 800-656-4673 or online at online.rainn.org.

Hip-hop artist and manager Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested after being indicted by a federal court grand jury on Monday, September 16. According to a 14-page indictment filed in federal court on September 12 and unsealed Tuesday, Combs is charged with organized crime, human trafficking and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.

As USA TODAY previously reported, Combs on Tuesday requested release on house arrest with GPS monitoring on $50 million bail, using his $48 million Miami estate and his mother's nearby home as collateral.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky denied bail and ordered Combs to remain in custody. Combs, his mother and daughters Chance, Jessie, D'Lia and Love Combs have all surrendered their passports to his lawyer.

Combs' arrest came after a series of trials, house searches and numerous high-profile controversies. Here's everything you need to know about the case and the details of the charges.

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Who is Sean “Diddy” Combs?

Combs is a hip hop artist, record producer, and music mogul from New York. Formerly known as “Puff Daddy,” “P. Diddy,” or simply “Diddy,” Combs is widely considered one of the most influential and well-known forces in the hip hop movement of the early 1990s.

Combs' journey to becoming a household name in the hip hop industry began in 1992 when he founded Bad Boy Records, a record label that sold over 500 million records, produced 38 platinum singles, and won multiple Grammy Awards. The label is also credited with launching the careers of many well-known artists such as Notorious BIG, Puff Daddy, Faith Evans, and others.

Notorious BIG's 1994 debut album, Ready to Die, sold 2 million copies by 1995 and was certified six times platinum. Biggie's labelmates Evans and Mase sold 1 million and 4 million copies of their first albums, Faith and Harlem World, respectively.

Why was “Diddy” arrested? Charges include sex trafficking, organized crime and more

Combs was arrested on Tuesday and faces three charges: conspiracy to commit organized crime, sex trafficking and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.

According to the indictment, between 2008 and the present, Combs is alleged to have abused, threatened and coerced women and others and led a criminal conspiracy that involved, among other things, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.

“As alleged in the indictment, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled for years to sexually abuse and exploit women and to commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. “Today he is charged with organized crime and sex trafficking.”

Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, was denied bail, and was ordered to remain in custody awaiting trial.

What is a “freak off”? Prosecutors claim victims were abused during “elaborate” sex performances

According to the indictment, Combs engaged in extensive sexual acts that he referred to as “freak offs.” The events were described as “elaborate and staged sexual performances” that Combs arranged, directed, and often electronically recorded without consent.

Combs later allegedly used the recordings as collateral against the victims to force their silence.

Using power and prestige, Combs – along with other members and associates of his network – lured victims under the guise of a romantic relationship and then forced them to attend events with male sex workers who were transported across state lines and abroad, the indictment states.

During these “freak-offs,” Combs allegedly distributed a variety of controlled substances to his victims to keep them “obedient and submissive.”

According to the indictment, Combs' employees supported the “outbursts” by providing supplies such as baby oil, lubricant, extra sheets and lighting to limit damage to the hotel rooms. During raids on Combs' home in March, police seized “more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant” as well as several AR-15 rifles.

Combs' arrest followed a series of spectacular lawsuits and house searches

In November 2023, Combs faced a series of rape and sexual assault lawsuits, including from singer and ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, a woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal, and a Jane Doe. The following month, Combs and former Bad Boy Entertainment president Harve Pierre, as well as a third, unnamed assailant, were accused of raping a minor in 2003.

In February 2024, Combs was accused of sexually harassing Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr., the music producer who worked with Combs on “The Love Album: Off the Grid.” Then on March 25, Homeland Security Investigations agents raided Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation in New York.

Numerous other controversies followed, including surfaced videos showing physical assaults on Cassie Ventura, additional lawsuits, former employees speaking out against Combs, and further allegations of sexual abuse.

Sex trafficking expert: Combs allegedly used “extraordinary force”

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Lauren Hersh, national director of the activist group World Without Exploitation, analyzed the allegations against Combs and how they could change the way people view sex trafficking.

According to Hersh, power dynamics play a key role in abuse. With immense power comes the ability to manipulate others and create a culture of silence, as well as the ability to conceal one's behavior through bribery.

“But initially, it's very tempting for people to be in his company, to be on his payroll, to be in his hotel rooms,” Hersh told the Times. “He has a prestige that draws people in, and he uses that mechanism to draw people in.”

Processing the trauma of abuse can take a lifetime, Hersh says, but such a notorious accusation paves the way for other survivors to come forward and overcome the stigma associated with speaking out about abuse.

“With this indictment, the message is clear: We believe you. That's really powerful. It's very likely that the victims were repeatedly told, 'Don't speak because no one will believe you,'” Hersh said.

“I think we are at a critical moment where we carefully examine cases and hold them accountable. It's about his relatives, but also about all survivors.”

Contributors: USA TODAY and Los Angeles Times

Diana Leyva covers breaking news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana.

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