Southern District of New York | Sean Combs charged in federal court in Manhattan with sex trafficking and other federal offenses

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced that SEAN COMBS, aka “Puff Daddy,” aka “P. Diddy,” aka “PD,” aka “Love,” was arrested last night and charged with three counts of organized crime, sex trafficking, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. The indictment, unsealed today, alleges that between 2008 and the present, COMBS abused, threatened, and coerced women and others and led an organized crime organization that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, among other activities. COMBS is scheduled to appear in federal court in Manhattan this afternoon before Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the indictment, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled for years to sexually abuse and exploit women, as well as commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice. Today he is charged with organized crime and sex trafficking. If you were a victim of Combs’ alleged abuse – or know anything about his alleged crimes – we urge you to come forward. This investigation is far from over.”

HSI Assistant Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker said, “Today, we are shattering any false notion of impunity by exposing the defendant’s alleged pattern of manipulation, exploitation, and outright abuse. Make no mistake: We are here today only because of the unwavering strength of the victims and witnesses who have already endured unspeakable hardships. I commend them for their bravery and urge anyone who believes they are a victim of sex trafficking to contact HSI via email at [email protected] or our mobile tip line at 1-877-4-HSITIP.”

The indictment unsealed today states:(1)

From at least 2008 to the present, COMBS ran a criminal organization designed to facilitate his abuse and exploitation of women, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct. As part of this criminal organization, COMBS, along with other members and associates of the organization, committed crimes including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

COMBS’ sexual abuse of women included forcing them to have sexual intercourse, often for days, with male sex workers, some of whom were transported across state lines. These events, which COMBS referred to as “freak offs,” were elaborate sex performances that COMBS arranged, directed, and often electronically recorded. To compel participation in freak offs, COMBS used violence and intimidation and exploited his power over victims – power he gained by obtaining and distributing narcotics, exploiting and threatening to withdraw their financial support, and controlling their careers. COMBS also threatened his victims, including by threatening to release the embarrassing and sensitive recordings he made of freak offs if the women did not comply with his demands.

COMBS’ efforts to control women included repeated physical abuse. COMBS attacked women by hitting, punching, dragging, throwing objects at them, and kicking them, among other things. COMBS also attacked witnesses to his abuse. These attacks often resulted in injuries to victims that took days or weeks to heal.

To commit these crimes, COMBS relied on his power as the leader of a multi-faceted business empire. Employees of COMBS’ companies – including high-level supervisors, security personnel, personal assistants, and domestic workers – acted as COMBS’s agents to, among other things, arrange travel and hotel rooms, stock the hotel rooms for COMBS’ commercial sex activities, contact or locate women and other individuals he targeted for abuse, and conceal and cover up the abuse. This criminal concealment also included efforts to prevent law enforcement from learning of his abuse.

If you believe you are a victim of a crime committed by Sean Combs, please contact HSI at [email protected] or the mobile tip line at 1-877-4-HSITIP and refer to this case.

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COMBS, 54, of Miami, Florida, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit organized crime, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of transportation for the purpose of prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The statutory maximum and mandatory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentence for the defendant is determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the Southern District of New York Special Agents, Digital Forensic Unit, and Complex Analytical and Social Media Enhancement Team in the high-drug intensity area of ​​New York/New Jersey.

This case is being handled by the Civil Rights Unit of the Office’s Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Foster, Emily A. Johnson, Christy Slavik, Madison Reddick Smyser and Mitzi Steiner.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.