Gladness Gideon
Embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs on Monday pleaded not guilty to two additional charges in the sweeping federal racketeering and sex trafficking case against him, as the high-profile trial looms closer with jury selection expected to begin next month.
The superseding indictment, unsealed in a New York federal court, introduces fresh allegations — one count of sex trafficking and another of transportation to engage in prostitution — linked to a second unnamed victim referred to as “Victim-2.”
Combs, 55, appeared in court to formally deny the new accusations, which, if upheld in court, could significantly increase his potential prison sentence. The charges paint a deeply disturbing picture of a man prosecutors say used his multimillion-dollar entertainment empire as a front for a sprawling criminal enterprise.
According to prosecutors, Combs spent over two decades abusing, threatening, and coercing women and employees to satisfy his sexual desires, maintain his public image, and hide his conduct.
The indictment alleges that through his businesses and inner circle, Combs orchestrated and financed crimes ranging from sex trafficking and forced labor to kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
Authorities say he hosted drug-fueled sex parties and demanded complete loyalty and silence from his staff, subjecting some to long hours under threat of retaliation. Combs continues to deny all charges, maintaining that all sexual interactions were consensual.
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Though trial proceedings are set to begin in May, his defense team signaled they might request a two-week delay to review newly submitted evidence. One of his attorneys, Marc Agnifilo, informed the court of the possibility on Monday. The presiding judge has given the defense two days to file the request formally.
Public allegations against Combs have mounted since late 2023 when singer Cassie, born Casandra Ventura, accused the Grammy-winning artist of prolonged abuse, including drug-induced coercion, beatings, and rape in 2018.
Aside from the criminal case, Combs is also grappling with numerous civil lawsuits that accuse him of violent and exploitative behavior with the support of a tight-knit group of associates and employees.
Incarcerated since September 2024, Combs has appeared visibly aged in recent court appearances, now sporting a salt-and-pepper hairstyle.
As the legal battles intensify, the once-revered hip hop titan faces one of the most dramatic falls from grace in modern entertainment history.