What to Know About Diddy's Federal Sex Trafficking Case

Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested by federal authorities in New York on Sept. 16 after nearly a year of legal drama culminated in a grand jury indictment of the rapper and music mogul. The indictment was unsealed Sept. 17 and paints a full picture of the alleged Combs crime network. 

The chain of events started to kick into high gear in November 2023 when Diddy's longtime girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit against him detailing the alleged physical and sexual abuse she faced throughout their relationship. The case was settled the following day, though it was just the tip of the iceberg for the "I'll Be Missing You" MC. 

Who has filed lawsuits against Diddy so far?

In the year prior to Diddy's arrest in the federal case, the rapper has faced civil lawsuits from a number of alleged victims. In November 2023, after Cassie settled her case, two more women came forward with accusations of physical and sexual abuse and forced drugging in the 1990s, just one day before the expiration of New York's Adult Survivors Act. Diddy's lawyers denied the claims. 

In December 2023, another woman alleged in a separate lawsuit that Diddy and two other men raped her in 2003 after being given drugs and alcohol that rendered her incapable of giving sexual consent. Diddy took to Instagram the same day to vehemently deny the claims in the growing avalanche of lawsuits. "I did not do any of the awful things being alleged," the post said. "I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth."

In February 2024, a music producer filed a lawsuit against Diddy claiming Combs sexually assaulted him and forced him to have sex with prostitutes—just one of several potentially illegal activities that he said he witnessed. In response, a lawyer for Diddy called the allegations "pure fiction." 

When footage of an assault against Cassie emerged earlier this year, Diddy took "full responsibility" in a contrite video on his Instagram. "It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that," he said. "I was f---ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses."

In September 2024, just days before Diddy was apprehended by federal authorities, singer Dawn Richard filed a lawsuit outlining years of physical and psychological abuse, as well as firsthand accounts of Diddy abusing Cassie. Richard was a member of the girl group Danity Kane, which rose to prominence on Diddy's MTV reality show Making the Band. Representatives for Diddy said Richard was making "an attempt to rewrite history" by manufacturing “a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day—conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour."

Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Accused of Rape, Abuse by Singer Cassie in Lawsuit

When did federal authorities raid Diddy's residences?

In the early morning on March 25, 2024, investigators with the Department of Homeland Security served search warrants and conducted raids on Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami. It was done in connection to a sex-trafficking investigation and not in relation to the civil lawsuits, though Diddy's attorneys claimed the moves were related. 

The following day, an attorney for Diddy called the raids "a gross use of military-level force" and emphasized that Diddy is "innocent and will continue to fight" to prove his innocence. 

What charges is Diddy facing in the federal investigation?

The federal indictment, unsealed Sept. 17, describes a history of alleged sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice dating back to 2008. 

Diddy is currently facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. 

How did prosecutors describe the alleged crimes?

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams described the alleged "freak-offs" to reporters, detailing drug- and alcohol-fueled sexual benders that were filmed as a form of blackmail. These events have similarly been described in the civil cases. 

"Combs allegedly planned and controlled the sex performances, which he called 'freak-offs' and he often electronically recorded them," Williams told reporters, per NBC News. "The 'freak-offs' sometimes lasted days at a time, involved multiple commercial sex workers, and often involved a variety of narcotics such as ketamine, ecstasy, and GHB, which Combs distributed to the victims to keep them obedient and compliant."

What has Diddy said about the allegations?

Diddy has repeatedly denied any allegations of wrongdoing in all the cases brought against him in the past year. 

His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, spoke to reporters outside Manhattan federal court on Sept. 17 after his client was arrested. 

"He came to New York to basically engage the court system and start the case, and it will start today and he’s going to plead not guilty," Agnifilo said. "He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers."

According to TMZ, Diddy has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. He's been denied bail and remains in custody. 

How much time in prison is Diddy facing?

The Bad Boy Entertainment mogul could face more than 20 years in prison if found guilty of the three counts in the indictment.