Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and prostitution after arrest

The music mogul has been hit with several charges after being arrested in New York City on Monday.

Sean “Diddy” Combs was hit with several charges after being arrested by federal agents.

Court documents obtained by TMZ on Tuesday ahead of Combs’ arraignment revealed that he has been charged with three counts: racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The unsealed indictment comes hours after the Bad Boy Records founder, 54, was detained at the Park Hyatt hotel in New York City amid a criminal investigation that led to his Miami and Los Angeles mansions being raided by authorities in March, reports Page Six.

In a statement, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, condemned his client’s arrest.

“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the US Attorney’s Office,” he said on Monday.

“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children and working to uplift the black community.”

Combs has been charged with several offences. Picture: Maria Alejandra Cardona/AFP

Agnifilo acknowledged that the Act Bad rapper is an “imperfect person” but insisted he is not a criminal.

“To his credit, Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation, and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges,” the lawyer said.

“Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

Combs’ downfall began in November 2023 when his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a bombshell lawsuit against the rap mogul accusing him of rape and physical abuse throughout their 10-year relationship.

The exes settled the suit the next day.

In May, video surveillance of the Sean John founder violently attacking the Me & U singer, 38, in a hotel in 2016 was released to the public.

Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo, speaks outside U.S. District Court on September 17, 2024 in New York City. Picture: John Lamparski/Getty Images

The clip, which was taken at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, California, showed a towel-clad Combs punching and kicking Ventura in a hallway as she tried to escape to the elevator.

After the video surfaced, the Last Night rapper, who had previously denied abusing the model, issued an apology for his actions, saying his behaviour in the video was “inexcusable.”

He also claimed that he had sought “professional help” and “started going to therapy and rehab.”

After Ventura’s lawsuit, several other people came forward to accuse Combs of sexual assault, sex trafficking, rape and other misconduct and illegal activity.

Combs is currently facing at least eight separate lawsuits, including one from Dawn Richard, who was previously signed to Bad Boy Records with his girl group Danity Kane and trio Diddy – Dirty Money.

In her suit, Richard, 41, claimed her former boss had inappropriately touched her while she was undressed and physically abused Ventura on several occasions in front of her.

Combs, a father of seven, has denied wrongdoing.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and prostitution after arrest