Top 5 Diddy indictment bombshells: What legal experts predict for the future of the fallen music mogul.
Multiple sex crime charges led to Sean 'Diddy' Combs being ordered to remain in custody without bail.
Hours after being arrested in the lobby of the Park Hyatt New York City hotel, Sean "Diddy" Combs was accused of being the leader of a criminal enterprise in a bombshell indictment that was unsealed.
On Tuesday, Combs, 54, was arraigned in Manhattan federal court and pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. Despite proposing a $50 million bail, Combs was denied and remanded to jail immediately following the hearing.
Combs was officially charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.
Hours before Combs was due in court, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York released the previously sealed indictment, which contained shocking allegations against the fallen "Bad Boy" entertainment tycoon.
"Freak Offs"
Officials alleged that Combs and several unnamed associates in the Combs Enterprise employed intimidation tactics to attract female victims into Combs' orbit, frequently under the guise of a romantic relationship.
The indictment stated that he used "force, threats of force, and coercion" to make victims engage in extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers, whom he referred to as "Freak Offs."
Combs arranged, directed, and masturbated during elaborate produced sex performances known as "Freak Offs," which were often electronically recorded. These performances allegedly involved transporting commercial sex workers across state lines and internationally for the events, which regularly occurred and sometimes lasted multiple days, often including multiple sex workers.
Combs reportedly provided victims with controlled substances to maintain their obedience and compliance. Unbeknownst to the victims, Combs recorded videos of them having sex with commercial sex workers. After the "Freak Offs," Combs and his victims were given IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use, according to documents.
If the allegations are true, they're "deeply disturbing," said San Diego criminal defense lawyer Ally Keegan to Planet Chronicle Digital.
"The indictment's level of detail is what makes it interesting, as the government anticipated a high-profile case and took the time to paint a vivid picture of how Combs allegedly exploited and abused women. This level of graphic detail helps those hearing the allegations for the first time to truly understand the depth of the potential conspiracy."
1,000 Bottles of Baby Oil and Lubricant
Officials confirmed to Planet Chronicle Digital that on March 25, Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided as part of a federal human trafficking investigation.
Authorities allegedly seized various "Freak Off" supplies during the search, including narcotics and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.
"What is interesting about the indictment itself is how detailed it is; the government knew this would be high-profile case, and clearly took the time to paint a picture of how Combs allegedly used his media empire to exploit and abuse women." — Ally Keegan
The Combs Enterprise, including high-ranking supervisors, security staff, household staff, personal assistants, and other Combs Business employees, facilitated the Freak Offs by booking hotel rooms, stocking the rooms with required supplies, and providing controlled substances, baby oil, lubricant, extra linens, and lighting, according to the indictment.
WATCH: US ATTORNEY GIVES PRESS CONFERENCE ON DIDDY'S SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGES
The associates were responsible for cleaning hotel rooms after the Freak Offs, arranging travel for victims, commercial sex workers, and Combs, and resupplying Combs with requested supplies. The team members allegedly delivered large sums of cash to Combs to pay the commercial sex workers and scheduled the delivery of IV fluids.
At Combs' residence, Greenberg Glusker partner Priya Sopori was taken aback by the large amount of supplies discovered.
"According to Sopori, the claim that a criminal conspiracy was orchestrated to satisfy one person's sexual desires is quite surprising. The allegation that authorities seized over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant is particularly disturbing, as it is hard to imagine the need to keep such large quantities on hand. It is unlikely that there was a massive sale at Costco."
"More specifically, the allegation that authorities seized over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant definitely has that "Ew" factor, because it’s difficult to imagine a need to maintain those quantities on hand. Was there a massive Costco sale? Probably not." — Priya Sopori
Firearms
According to the indictment, Combs and his personal security detail were accused of carrying firearms to intimidate and threaten others, including victims and witnesses of his abuse.
During the March 25 raid, officials confiscated three AR-15s with altered serial numbers and a drum magazine from Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
Combs Enterprise members and associates reportedly observed the rapper's violent behavior towards the victims, but failed to intervene.
Combs Enterprise associates helped conceal the violence and abuse by monitoring and preventing victims from leaving locations, such as hotels or COMBS' residences. These occasions included instances in which a victim was required to remain in hiding-sometimes for several days at a time-to recover from injuries COMBS inflicted, without being publicly observed.
Arson
Combs is accused of engaging in multiple acts of arson under California Penal Code sections 451, 21(a), 664, 31, and 182.
The indictment stated that Combs and members and associates of the Enterprise engaged in acts of violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm, and verbal abuse when employees, witnesses to his abuse, or others threatened Combs' authority or reputation.
"Kidnapping and arson were among the violent acts committed by Combs. On numerous occasions, he threw objects and people, and physically assaulted others by hitting, dragging, choking, and shoving them."
Officials alleged that Combs profited from his leadership and control of a complex business empire, which resulted in a criminal organization that committed various crimes, including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
Video Evidence
The indictment claims that Combs' physical assaults were "frequent and widely recognized." According to the allegations, Combs assaulted women by striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them.
In 2016, a surveillance video from a Los Angeles hotel allegedly showed billionaire Diddy publicly assaulting his then girlfriend Cassie Ventura. The footage showed Combs kicking, dragging, and throwing a vase at a woman as she tried to leave. When a hotel security staff member intervened, Combs attempted to bribe the staff member to maintain silence.
A former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, Neama Rahmani, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that the video evidence is crucial in building a robust case.
"During his press conference, US Attorney Damian Williams revealed other video evidence in addition to the one of Diddy beating Cassie, which was widely seen online. According to Cassie and the other civil plaintiffs, Diddy reportedly videotaped the 'Freak Offs.' While people can be dishonest, video evidence is generally considered more reliable."
WATCH: 2016 SURVEILLANCE VIDEO ALLEGEDLY SHOWS ALTERCATIONS BETWEEN DIDDY AND CASSIE
Combs Enterprise
According to the indictment, Sean Combs allegedly established a network through his "Combs Enterprise" to maintain his global business by preserving, protecting, promoting, and enhancing his power, reputation, and brand.
The associates demonstrated their loyalty and fulfilled their obligations by resorting to violence, using firearms, making threats of violence, coercing others, and engaging in verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Moreover, they were willing to assist Combs in fulfilling his personal desires, particularly those related to sexual gratification, through the exploitation of women and the use of commercial sex workers.
"RICO charges can be challenging to overcome even with a skilled lawyer, as the government must prove every element of a RICO case beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, Diddy's best strategy may be to challenge the existence of the alleged criminal organization or the sufficiency of the alleged activity to create a pattern of alleged criminal activity."
Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky concluded that there were "no conditions" she could impose on Combs in his plea for bail on Tuesday. Tarnofsky emphasized that sex trafficking is a crime that takes place in private and that it would be challenging to monitor the rapper even with pre-trial monitoring services. Despite considering alternatives to detention, Tarnofsky ultimately determined that they were not sufficient. Tarnofsky acknowledged the substantial weight of the evidence against Combs.
Combs' legal team plans to appeal the bail decision.
"The rapper's lawyer stated outside the courthouse after the arraignment that Mr. Combs is a fighter and will fight the charges to the end. He is innocent and came to New York to prove his innocence. He is not afraid of the charges."
According to Rahmani, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital, Diddy is unlikely to win the case. Even if jurors believe one victim is lying to obtain money in a civil lawsuit, when multiple victims tell the same story and that story is supported by video evidence, it is difficult for jurors to disregard that evidence.
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