Sean Combs, widely known by his various stage names including Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, and Diddy, has been indicted by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

The indictment accuses Combs of leading a criminal enterprise for decades that utilized the resources and influence of his business empire to abuse, threaten, and coerce women and others. This enterprise is alleged to have involved his businesses, including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises, and Combs Global, encompassing a range of entities like record labels, a recording studio, an apparel line, an alcoholic spirits business, and a television network.

Sean Combs, known by various stage names including Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, and Diddy, is a multifaceted American music producer, rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. Born on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York City, Combs was raised in Mount Vernon, New York, after the murder of his father. He attended Howard University but left before completing his degree to pursue a career in the music industry.

Combs started as an intern at Uptown Records, quickly making a name for himself in the industry. In 1993, he founded Bad Boy Entertainment, which became a powerhouse label in the hip-hop and R&B genres, launching the careers of artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, and Mase. As a producer and artist, Combs released several successful albums, including his debut “No Way Out” in 1997, which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. His hit singles such as “I’ll Be Missing You” and “Bad Boy for Life” cemented his status in the music world.

Beyond music, Combs expanded his brand into various ventures, including the Sean John clothing line, which won the CFDA Award for Menswear Designer of the Year in 2004. He also delved into the liquor industry with the promotion of Cîroc vodka and established the REVOLT TV network. His entrepreneurial success has made him one of the wealthiest figures in hip-hop.

Combs’ career has been marked by both commercial success and controversy. He has faced several legal issues and public scandals over the years, which have sometimes overshadowed his contributions to the music and entertainment industry. Despite this, his impact on hip-hop culture and business is undeniable, as he continues to be a prominent figure in American pop culture.

According to the indictment, Combs engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women, using manipulation, force, threats, and coercion. He is accused of orchestrating and participating in elaborate sexual performances, referred to as “Freak Offs,” involving commercial sex workers and controlled substances to ensure compliance from the women involved. These acts were reportedly arranged and facilitated by members and associates of the so-called “Combs Enterprise.”

The indictment defines the “Combs Enterprise” as an organization whose members and associates, including Combs himself, engaged in illegal activities such as sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, and arson. Combs is accused of being the leader of this enterprise, which operated within and beyond the Southern District of New York.

Members of this enterprise, including employees of Combs’ businesses, allegedly acted as intermediaries and facilitated Combs’ activities by booking hotel rooms, stocking supplies, arranging travel for the victims and sex workers, delivering large sums of cash, and scheduling the delivery of IV fluids for recovery after these orchestrated events.

The indictment outlines instances of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse carried out by Combs, including striking, punching, dragging, and kicking women. One noted incident in 2016 involved Combs assaulting a woman in a Los Angeles hotel, which was captured on video. It further alleges that Combs’ violence extended to employees, witnesses to his abuse, and others.

The indictment also claims that Combs used firearms to intimidate victims and witnesses, with law enforcement seizing firearms, ammunition, and various supplies during searches of his residences in Miami and Los Angeles in March 2024.

The charges against Combs include a racketeering conspiracy from at least 2008 through the filing of this indictment. This conspiracy involved kidnapping, arson, bribery, tampering with witnesses, forced labor, and sex trafficking. It is alleged that Combs agreed to commit at least two acts of racketeering activity as part of the enterprise’s operations.

Specific Counts

• Count One: Racketeering conspiracy, which includes multiple acts involving kidnapping, arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking, transportation and inducement for prostitution, and narcotics offenses.
• Count Two: Sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion involving a victim identified as “Victim-I” from 2009 to 2018.
• Count Three: Transportation to engage in prostitution, where Combs is alleged to have transported individuals across state and international borders with the intent of engaging them in prostitution.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of any property or interests acquired or maintained through the criminal enterprise, including proceeds obtained from these activities. If the forfeitable property cannot be located, the government intends to seek the forfeiture of other assets of equal value.

United States Attorney Damian Williams, who signed the indictment, emphasizes the severity of the charges, highlighting the alleged abuse and exploitation carried out by Combs and his associates. The indictment paints a picture of a long-standing pattern of criminal behavior hidden behind the facade of a successful business empire.