Diddy faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges in court
Cassie Ventura among accusers in Diddy’s ongoing legal battles
Ten months after Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura accused him of rape and physical abuse, the music mogul appeared before a Manhattan federal judge on Tuesday to face charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Combs, 54, is being held without bail following an indictment that details nearly two decades of alleged misconduct.
Cassie, an R&B singer once signed to Combs’ label, Bad Boy Records, accused him of raping and physically abusing her from 2005 to 2018. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, claims Combs drugged, raped, and beat her, and forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed the encounters. Additionally, Cassie alleged that Combs blew up rapper Kid Cudi’s car after learning he was romantically interested in her. Their relationship reportedly began in 2005 when she was 22 and he was nearly 40. A day after the lawsuit was filed, Combs and Cassie reached an undisclosed settlement.
Another woman, Joi Dickerson-Neal, a former Syracuse University student, accused Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her on a date in 1991. She claims Combs gave her drugs that left her unable to stand and then filmed the assault. Combs’ spokesperson denied these allegations, calling the lawsuit a “money grab.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs' attorney, Teny Geragos, joins #Cuomo to say there was no nonconsensual activity, and that “maybe it’s not what someone here would do in the bedroom” but that it “doesn’t mean what he did was a crime.”
MORE: https://t.co/QZd6lMUrTp pic.twitter.com/axF7OuoFJg
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) September 18, 2024
A third woman, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit claiming that Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Hall raped her and a friend in the early 1990s. The lawsuit alleges the assault took place at Hall’s apartment after a 1990 or 1991 event hosted by MCA Records. Combs’ spokesperson dismissed these claims as fabricated and a last-minute attempt to extort money.
Combs faces a fourth sexual assault accusation from a woman who claims he and others gang-raped her at his Manhattan recording studio in 2003 when she was 17. The woman, identified as Jane Doe, alleges Combs drugged and raped her along with Harve Pierre and another individual. Combs denied these claims through his representative, stating, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
Combs was also set to star in a Hulu TV show, “Diddy+7,” produced by James Corden’s company, Fulwell 73. However, Hulu scrapped the show due to his legal troubles. Additionally, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones accused Combs of repeated sexual assault while working on his latest album. Combs allegedly groped Jones’ genitals and touched his anus, which Combs dismissed as “horseplay.”
Yung Miami, Combs’ ex-girlfriend, was implicated in transporting “pink cocaine” for him in April 2023, according to an amended complaint. The suit also claims Combs paid Instagram influencer Jade Ramey a “monthly stipend” for sex work. Federal authorities raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami, seizing guns, electronics, and hundreds of bottles of baby oil and lube.
Surveillance footage obtained by CNN showed Combs shoving, kicking, and dragging Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in March 2016. The video, which Combs allegedly paid $50,000 to obtain, shows him chasing her with a towel around his waist, kicking her, and dragging her on the carpet. Two days later, Combs publicly apologised, calling his behaviour “inexcusable.”
Crystal McKinney, an MTV “Model Mission” winner, accused Combs of assaulting her in 2003, claiming she kept her unwashed clothing from the night as evidence. McKinney said Combs forced her to perform oral sex on him at his studio, promising to help advance her modelling career.
April Lampros, a former student at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology, filed a lawsuit alleging Combs sexually assaulted her on four occasions from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. This marks the eighth lawsuit against Combs since November, with seven accusing him of sexual assault.
Following the release of the video showing Combs beating Ventura, Mayor Eric Adams revoked Combs’ key to the city, which he had received in November 2023. Howard University also revoked Combs’ honorary degree and returned a $1 million donation.
Former adult film star Adria English filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of grooming her into a sex-trafficking victim while she worked as a dancer at his white party nearly two decades ago. Homeland Security Investigations, which typically handles sex-trafficking cases, arrested Combs on Monday night at the Park Hyatt New York. Combs pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation for the purposes of prostitution.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Billboard provides a detailed timeline of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sexual misconduct allegations, focusing on lawsuits from multiple accusers and the recent video of him assaulting Cassie Ventura, emphasizing the extensive legal and public backlash. (Read more)
- NBC New York details Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ arrest and abuse allegations, highlighting key events from November 2023 to September 2024, including multiple lawsuits and his voluntary relocation for federal charges. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What are the charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs?
Combs faces charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
What did Cassie Ventura accuse Sean Combs of?
Cassie accused Combs of rape, physical abuse, and trafficking over more than a decade.
Did Cassie and Sean Combs settle their lawsuit?
Yes, they reached a settlement one day after the lawsuit was filed.
What did federal authorities find during the raids on Combs’ homes?
Authorities found guns, ammunition, and hundreds of bottles of baby oil and lube.
What action did Mayor Eric Adams take against Combs?
Mayor Eric Adams revoked Combs’ key to the city.
