Musician and producer Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested on Monday (16) in New York, the artist’s lawyer confirmed to CNN. He has been charged with racketeering and sex trafficking and could face life in prison if convicted.
The first charge, racketeering, is a federal crime used to target organized crime syndicates, known as “organizations,” such as the Mafia. In the rapper’s case, the “Combs Organization” consisted of:
- Sean Combs, the leader;
- Business entities, including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment;
- Employees and associates, including security staff, housekeepers, personal assistants and senior supervisors.
“Members and associates of the ‘Combs Organization’ engaged in — and attempted to engage in — among other activities, sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution, coercion and solicitation for prostitution, drug trafficking, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice,” according to the indictment.
2016 assault video
The indictment cites a 2016 video obtained exclusively by CNN, in which Combs is seen beating his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, an artist known as Cassie, in a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016.
The rapper is accused of years of abuse and of being involved “in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse against women and other individuals,” the indictment alleges.
“This abuse was, at times, verbal, emotional, physical and sexual,” they added.
“Freak offs” and seizure of weapons, ammunition and drugs
Authorities seized guns, ammunition, drugs and a large amount of baby oil and lubricant during searches of Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles in March, according to the indictment.
Combs allegedly performed what he called “Freak Offs,” or sexual performances in which he drugged and coerced victims into prolonged sexual acts. In addition, associates of the singer and the artist himself allegedly carried firearms “to intimidate and threaten others.”
This content was originally published in See the main points of the accusation against Sean “Diddy” Combs on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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