Less than 24 hours after Sean “Diddy” Combs’ arrest, the Bad Boy Records mogul appeared in Manhattan federal court, where he pleaded not guilty to three counts: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He was denied bond and will remain in custody at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) indefinitely after the judge agreed with prosecutors and labeled him a flight risk.
The Feds unsealed their case against “Diddy” earlier Tuesday (September 17) and the embattled mogul is facing 15 years to life in prison.
He was taken into custody in New York late Monday (September 16) after being apprehended by authorities. Diddy is currently detained at the FBI’s Manhattan office.
The Feds claim the Bad Boy mogul operated a criminal enterprise to dominate the music business. The indictment alleges that Diddy engaged in a series of serious crimes over a period of years, leading a criminal enterprise that committed various offenses, including arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.
The charges describe an enterprise that allegedly trafficked women, used force for prostitution and carried out other criminal activities.
The indictment lays out details of alleged physical violence against women, dating back to 2009, including striking, dragging and other violent acts.
Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones also filed a lawsuit, accusing Diddy of similar crimes, including arson (blowing up Kid Cudi’s car) and the involvement of male prostitutes.
Diddy has faced numerous civil lawsuits over the past year, including a high-profile case from his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura accusing him of rape and abuse.
His arrest follows a series of troubling allegations and investigations. Federal agents raided his residences in March, intensifying scrutiny on Diddy.
As recently as last week, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard lodged a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of manipulation and witnessing abuse towards Ventura.
Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, released a statement to AllHipHop arguing the perceived injustice of the prosecution.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Agnifilo stated.
He emphasized Diddy’s cooperation with the investigation, noting, “Mr. Combs is not a criminal. He voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. 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.”