Music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has found himself at the center of a major federal investigation. The 54-year-old rapper, who has built a multi-million dollar empire in the entertainment industry, was arrested on Monday (September 16) in New York City on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
According to TMZ, Combs was taken into federal custody. A grand jury indicted him on several counts related to sex trafficking and other charges. He was transported to the FBI field office in Manhattan for questioning and is expected to face trial soon.
The indictment paints a disturbing picture of a man using his immense wealth and influence to orchestrate elaborate sex parties, some of which were reportedly recorded. “Members of the Combs enterprise allegedly engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice,” TMZ reports, citing the official indictment. The charges span across various criminal activities, all of which Diddy has denied.
While the rapper has not spoken publicly since the arrest, his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has been vocal in defending his client. In a statement to TMZ, Agnifilo expressed disappointment in the federal prosecution, calling the charges “unjust.” He urged the public to withhold judgment until all the facts were presented in court.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Agnifilo said. “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.”
Agnifilo continued, “He is an imperfect person but is not criminal. To his credit, Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation, and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Combs is expected to appear in court to hear the charges read, where he will formally enter a plea. His lawyer, Agnifilo, confirmed that Diddy plans to plead not guilty and will fight the charges “with all his energy and might.” Speaking outside a courthouse on Tuesday (September 19), Agnifilo noted that Combs’ willingness to cooperate with authorities is a sign of his innocence.
“He came to New York to basically engage the court system and start the case, and it will start today,” Agnifilo said. “He’s going to plead not guilty, obviously.”
