September 19th 2024.
The famous hip-hop artist, Sean "Diddy" Combs, will remain in federal custody as he awaits his trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. His lawyers attempted to appeal the judge's decision to deny him bail, but were unsuccessful. The prosecution argued that Combs posed a risk of obstructing the case, and Judge Andrew Carter agreed, stating that there were no conditions that could reduce this risk.
Combs, who is 54 years old, could face a sentence of life in prison if he is convicted. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 9, and his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has stated that they plan to appeal the ruling. According to Agnifilo, they will not let Combs sit in jail any longer than he has to.
When asked about Combs' lack of reaction to the ruling, Agnifilo explained that he is a stoic person and has been through a lot in his life. Combs is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The prosecution has alleged that Combs ran a criminal enterprise through his business empire, which involved crimes such as sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice. This was stated in the federal indictment against him.
Currently, Combs is being held at the Special Housing Unit in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Prosecutors opposed his release on any grounds, citing his alleged attempt to tamper with witnesses and the acute risk of danger he poses. They also pointed to a cache of weapons found in his bedroom closet and his access to millions of dollars, making him a flight risk.
In an effort to convince the judge to release Combs on bail, his lawyers submitted a new bail package on Wednesday. This package included several restrictions, such as limiting all female visitors who are not family members and a $50 million bond co-signed by Combs, his mother, and other family members. It also proposed surrendering his passport, home detention, weekly drug testing, and a visitor log to be submitted to pretrial services every night.
However, Judge Carter deemed this package insufficient and ruled that the government had met its burden of proof. He expressed concern about the potential for obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Combs' attorney proposed additional conditions to address these concerns, such as banning his access to cell phones and the internet and having an intelligence firm monitor his residence 24/7. But the judge stated that these measures were also insufficient.
On Monday night, Combs was arrested at a hotel in Manhattan and taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations. The indictment against him states that he has abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him for more than a decade to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct. It also accuses him of hosting drug-fueled "freak offs" with victims and sex workers and instances of physical and sexual abuse.
During his detention hearing, federal prosecutors revealed that at least a dozen witnesses had personally witnessed Combs' violence against women or the injuries they sustained at his hands. They also mentioned that Combs had reached out to victims and witnesses, some of whom are scared of him. His attorneys denied these allegations and argued that the "freak offs" were consensual acts among adults.
In a separate lawsuit, Combs has been accused of sexual battery by former member of the musical group Danity Kane, Dawn Richard. Her attorney stated that it was shocking to hear that a witness in her case had received 128 phone contacts from Combs within four days of the complaint being filed. Combs' attorney, however, stated that this was not obstruction and that the witness would have a different experience at trial. Another one of Combs' attorneys, Erica Wolff, denied the allegations in the lawsuit and accused Richard of having a financial motive.
Combs' case has gained a lot of attention, with a total of 10 lawsuits being filed against him since last November, with nine directly accusing him of sexual assault. The federal indictment states that members and associates of Combs' enterprise engaged in activities such as sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution, and other crimes. The prosecution has argued that Combs should be detained as he is a serial abuser and obstructor. His attorneys, on the other hand, claim that this case is about one victim and not multiple victims, as stated by the prosecution. The trial is set to continue, and the truth will be revealed in court.
Sean "Diddy" Combs will remain in federal custody until his trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. This decision was made by Judge Andrew Carter on Wednesday after Combs' lawyers were unsuccessful in appealing his bail denial. The prosecution argued that Combs posed a risk of obstructing the case, and Judge Carter agreed, stating that no conditions could be set to reduce this risk.
The popular hip-hop artist, who pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. If convicted, he could face a life sentence. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 9, and his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has stated that they plan to appeal the ruling. Agnifilo also expressed his determination to not let Combs spend a day longer in jail than necessary.
When questioned about Combs' lack of reaction to the ruling, Agnifilo described him as a stoic individual who has been through a lot in his life. The prosecution has alleged that Combs ran a criminal enterprise through his business empire, engaging in a variety of crimes such as sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
Combs is currently being held at the Special Housing Unit in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after another judge denied him bail on Tuesday. The prosecution strongly opposed his release, citing concerns of witness tampering and danger. They pointed to a cache of weapons found in Combs' closet and his access to large sums of money, making him a potential flight risk.
In an attempt to persuade the judge to release Combs on bail, his lawyers submitted a new bail package on Wednesday. This package included strict conditions, such as restricting all non-family female visitors to his home and limiting all visitors to his Miami properties. It also proposed a $50 million bond co-signed by Combs, his mother, and other family members, as well as surrendering his passport, home detention, and weekly drug testing.
However, Judge Carter ruled that this package did not provide sufficient assurance that Combs would return to court. He cited concerns of obstruction of justice and witness tampering, stating that the government had met its burden of proof. Combs' lawyer proposed additional conditions, such as banning him from having a cell phone or internet access and having an intelligence firm monitor his residence 24 hours a day. But the judge deemed these measures insufficient and denied the bail.
Combs' arrest on Monday night came after a series of sexual assault lawsuits and a federal human trafficking investigation over the past year. According to the indictment, Combs abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him for over a decade to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his actions. The indictment also accuses him of hosting drug-fueled sex performances with victims and sex workers, as well as instances of physical and sexual abuse.
During the detention hearing, prosecutors revealed that at least a dozen witnesses had personally witnessed Combs' violence towards women or the injuries they sustained. They also stated that Combs had reached out to these witnesses and victims, with some expressing fear of him. Combs' lawyers denied these allegations and argued that the "freak offs" were consensual acts among adults.
In a separate lawsuit, one of Combs' accusers, former member of the musical group Danity Kane, Dawn Richard, accused him of sexual battery. Her attorney, Arick Fudali, expressed shock at the revelation that a witness in her case had received 128 phone contacts from Combs within four days of filing the complaint. Combs' lawyers denied this as obstruction and stated that the witness had a different experience that would be revealed at trial.
Combs' lawyers have also stated that they have interviewed a large number of men who are alleged witnesses in the case and that the "freak offs" were consensual acts. They also denied the allegations in another lawsuit and accused the accuser, Erica Wolff, of having a financial motive. Combs' lawyers continue to maintain his innocence and plan to fight the charges against him.
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