17th September, 2024
By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Superstar rapper and music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been charged with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, according to prosecutors.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, following Combs‘ arrest on Monday by federal agents.
The charges stem from a sealed indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York.
In addition to racketeering and sex trafficking, Combs faces a third charge of “transportation to engage in prostitution.”
Combs, 54, is set to plead not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, confirmed ahead of the court appearance that Combs is innocent of all allegations.
“It’s going to be racketeering. It’s going to be sex trafficking,” Agnifilo stated. “And he’s not guilty. He’s innocent of these charges.” Agnifilo also noted that Combs’s “spirits are good” and emphasized that he intends to vigorously contest the accusations.
The indictment will be unsealed during Combs’s arraignment at a Manhattan courthouse.
Federal agents previously raided the rapper’s luxury homes in Miami and Los Angeles in March, marking a significant step in the investigation against him.
Combs, known for his influential role in hip hop and his ventures in the liquor industry, has faced multiple civil lawsuits.
These lawsuits paint him as a violent sexual predator who allegedly used alcohol and drugs to control his victims.
The recent allegations follow a series of legal challenges, including accusations from singer Cassie Ventura, who claimed that Combs subjected her to over a decade of coercion, physical force, and a rape in 2018.
