Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs charged with sex trafficking, forced labour

Hip-hop star Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been slammed with a slew of charges including forced labour and sex trafficking, according to charges at a federal court in Manhattan, New York City.
The charges accused Diddy of transporting individuals interstate for the purpose of prostitution and using various means to entice them to engage in prostitution.
Mr Diddy, arrested on Monday at a hotel in Manhattan, was accused of running a “criminal enterprise” involved in “sex trafficking, forced labour, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offences, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”
The indictment said that Mr Diddy was able to gain loyalty from his workers by constantly threatening and intimidating them with acts of violence.
The Grammy artiste ran his alleged criminal businesses without detection by law enforcement agents by bribing his way through major roadblocks and threatening “retaliation against individuals who witnessed the crimes committed by members and associates of the enterprise.”
Despite the mounting allegations stacked against the rapper, Mr Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo, vowed to “fight like hell” to get him released.
Mr Agnifilo told reporters at the court on Tuesday that his client would “plead not guilty obviously” to the charges which would be handled like “every challenge” he has faced in life.
“He is dealing with this head on, the way he’s dealt with every challenge in his life. And he’s not guilty,” Mr Agnifilo said in front of the federal Court on Tuesday.
“He’s innocent of these charges. He’s going to plead not guilty, obviously. He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers. And I expect a long battle with a good result for Mr. Combs. I’m going to fight like hell to get him released, and he should be released,” the lawyer added.
Various women including his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and album co-producer, Lul Rod had accused Diddy of sexual assault and narcotics trafficking.
Lil Rod, who sued Diddy for $30 million in a separate case, said the rapper tried to coerce him into having gay sex in exchange for Grammy awards.
The indictment asserted that Mr Diddy often used women as punching bags “dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them.”
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