Hip-hop mogul Sean Combs pleaded not responsible to intercourse trafficking and different prices in New York federal courtroom on Tuesday.
He’s accused of working a prison enterprise that relied on medication and violence to drive girls to “fulfill his sexual needs,” prosecutors mentioned.
Mr. Combs was arrested in New York on Monday evening, about six months after federal brokers raided his houses in Miami and Los Angeles earlier than showing in courtroom.
The 14-page indictment unsealed Tuesday morning prices Combs with racketeering, forcible intercourse trafficking and transportation for prostitution.
Prosecutors requested the decide to maintain Mr Coombs in custody till the trial started, saying he may pose a “severe” flight danger.
Combs’ lawyer, Mark Agnifilo, mentioned exterior courtroom Tuesday that he was “disenchanted” within the indictment. He mentioned Mr Coombs was the goal of an “unfair prosecution”.
“He is in good spirits. He is assured,” Mr. Agnifilo mentioned.
Federal prosecutors mentioned in courtroom paperwork that Mr. Combs “abused, threatened and coerced the ladies and others round him with a view to fulfill his sexual needs, shield his repute and conceal his conduct.”
Prosecutors allege Combs “created a prison enterprise” whose members engaged in intercourse trafficking, pressured labor, kidnapping, arson and bribery below his management.
Combs assaulted the ladies “on a number of events” by “hanging, punching, dragging, throwing objects at them and kicking them,” the doc mentioned.
Mr Coombs has beforehand confronted quite a few prices.
In late December, Combs’ then-girlfriend, singer Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, filed a civil lawsuit towards Combs that included graphic descriptions of violent abuse. He denied the accusations and settled the case the day after it was filed.
Nevertheless, in Might, Combs publicly apologized after video footage of him punching Ms. Ventura in a hallway at a Los Angeles resort.
The latest indictment towards Mr. Coombs accuses him of comparable acts of violence and offers further particulars about his intimate habits and relationships.
Ms. Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Vigdor, declined to touch upon Mr. Combs’ arrest.
In keeping with courtroom paperwork, Combs “used the ability of his standing” to “seduce feminine victims … into partaking in extended sexual acts” generally known as “Freak Offs.”
“Whereas on Freak Offs, Combs distributed numerous managed substances to victims, partly to acquire compliance,” the indictment states.
At a information convention after the indictment was unsealed, U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams mentioned officers discovered weapons, ammunition and greater than 1,000 bottles of lubricant after they raided Mr. Coombs’ house.
Williams mentioned federal brokers additionally discovered three semi-automatic rifles with defaced serial numbers and a drum journal.
Williams informed reporters that additional prices weren’t dominated out, however he didn’t present particular particulars.
The costs observe a collection of sexual assault allegations towards Mr. Combs, probably the most profitable music moguls in rap historical past.
4 girls, together with Ms. Ventura, have filed lawsuits accusing him of sexual and bodily abuse.
In an announcement issued in December, Mr Coombs defended himself towards what he mentioned had been “disgusting accusations” made by “people in search of a fast payday”.
Nevertheless, his repute took a success.
In June, Mr. Combs returned the “Key to New York Metropolis” that Mayor Eric Adams had given him 9 months earlier.
Days later, Howard College introduced it was revoking Mr. Combs’ 2014 honorary diploma.
