MANHATTAN, New York – Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker and Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Sean Combs, aka “Puff Daddy,” aka “P. Diddy,” aka “PD,” aka “Love,” was arrested and charged in a three count indictment with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution in a press release on September 17, 2024.
The indictment accuses Combs, 54, of Miami, Florida, of abusing, threatening and coercing women and others, leading a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, among other crimes between 2008 and the present.
“Today, we shatter any false notion of impunity as we uncover the defendant’s alleged pattern of manipulation, exploitation and outright abuse,” said Walker. “Make no mistake: we are here today only because of the unwavering strength of victims and witnesses who have already endured unspeakable hardships. I commend them for their courage and urge anyone who believes they are a victim of sex trafficking to contact HSI by email at Sextrafficking_outreach@hsi.dhs.gov, or via our mobile tip-line: 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.”
“As alleged in the Indictment, for years, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled to sexually abuse and exploit women, as well as to commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice,” said Williams. “Today, he is charged with racketeering and sex trafficking offenses. If you have been a victim of Combs’ alleged abuse — or if you know anything about his alleged crimes — we urge you to come forward. This investigation is far from over.”
According to the indictment, from at least 2008 through the present, Combs led a criminal enterprise that facilitated his abuse and exploitation of women, protected his reputation and concealed his conduct. As part of this criminal enterprise, Combs, with others committed crimes which included sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.
Combs’ sexual abuse of women included making them engage in days-long sex acts with male commercial sex workers, some of whom were transported over state lines. These events were referred to by Combs as “Freak Offs,” and were elaborate sex performances that Combs arranged, directed and oftentimes recorded electronically. To guarantee participation in these events, Combs used violence and intimidation to leverage his power over victims. This power was obtained by obtaining and distributing narcotics to victims, financial support and threats to cut off the same and control of their careers. Combs also threatened to expose the embarrassing and sensitive recordings that he made of Freak Offs if women did not comply with his demands.
Combs’ efforts to control these women included physical abuse. Combs assaulted women by striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at and kicking them. Combs also assaulted witnesses to his abuse.
Combs relied on his power as the leader of a business empire to commit these crimes. His employees, which include high ranking supervisors, security staff, personal assistants and household staff acted as his intermediaries to arrange travel and hotel rooms, stock the hotel rooms for his commercial sex activity, locate women and others whom he targeted for abuse and conceal and cover up the abuse. These criminal concealment efforts include preventing law enforcement from learning of Combs’ abuse.
Combs is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy 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 transportation for purposes of prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Persons accused of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.