American rapper P. Diddy, real name Sean Combs, was remanded in custody Tuesday pending trial after being accused by federal prosecutors in New York of using his “empire” to fuel a violent sex trafficking scheme.
Arrested Monday evening in Manhattan, the artist, who has been the target of multiple complaints of sexual assault for several months, appeared in Manhattan court, where he pleaded “not guilty” to charges of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and extortion.
Judge Robyn Tarnofsky ordered Combs remanded in custody pending trial, citing concerns that such “crimes that take place behind closed doors” would be repeated. Combs’ attorney said an appeal hearing on the detention would be held Wednesday afternoon.
An artist with multiple nicknames and roles in the music and business worlds, P. Diddy, 54, is described by his alleged victims as a violent sexual predator who used alcohol and drugs to gain their submission. The rapper “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to satisfy his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his actions,” charges the indictment unsealed Tuesday by the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office.
“Voluntarily” in New York to cooperate
Federal prosecutor Damian Williams described a system based on “violence” to force women to have “long sexual relations with sex workers”, scenes that he “recorded” and during which the victims took substances such as ecstasy, GHB or ketamine.
“He is not guilty, he is innocent of all these charges,” his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said as he arrived at the Manhattan federal courthouse. “We know what the charges will be without having seen the indictment. It will be extortion, sex trafficking,” he added, even before the indictment was released. According to the lawyer, his client was “voluntarily” in New York to “surrender,” cooperate with the investigation and “clear his name in court.”
The rapper has been the target of a complaint from Adria English, a former porn actress, since early July. She accuses Sean Combs of using her “as a sexual pawn for the pleasure and financial benefit of others” during parties in the Hamptons, New York, and Florida, between 2004 and 2009. In total, nine complaints have been filed against the rapper since November 2023.