Latest news with #Victim-2
Mint
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial timeline: A look at key events, allegations and charges against the musician
Witnesses started testifying against hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York on May 12. Combs is facing charges of sex trafficking, and racketeering. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, could face life in prison if convicted of all five felony counts, according to news agency Reuters. – In 2023, barely a month after Combs released a new album 'The Love Album: Off the Grid", his former girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura accused him of raping and physically abusing her. She filed a lawsuit against Combs on November 16, claiming that he inflicted years of emotional abuse on her and sought to control all aspects of her personal life, according to the lawsuit she filed in federal court in New York, the Reuters report said. – On November 17, 2023, Combs and Ventura agreed to settle the lawsuit. – However, on November 23, 2023, two more women, Joi Dickerson-Neal and Liza Gardner, accuse Combs of sexual assaults. – More accusers come forward on December 6, 2023. – On March 25, 2024, Combs' homes in Los Angeles and the Miami area are searched by federal agents as part of sex trafficking investigation, the report said. – A 2016 video of Combs kicking and dragging Ventura is released by CNN on May 17, 2024. – On March 19, 2024, Combs apologises to Ventura for physically assaulting her. – In September, 2024, Singer Dawn Richard, a former member of the musical group Danity Kane, filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of sexual battery, sexual harassment, and false imprisonment, among other allegations, a CNN report said. Richard even claims to be an eyewitness to Combs 'brutally beating' Ventura. Sean Diddy Combs, left, stands as his defense attorney, Teny Geragos, gives her opening statement to the jury on the first day of trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. – On September 16, 2024, just a week after Richard's lawsuit, Combs is arrested in New York City after a jury voted to indict him on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution in incidents dating back to 2008, according to the CNN report. – Two days later, on September 18, 2024, Combs appeal against his detention is heard. Prosecutors ask the judges to keep the music mogul behind bars, telling the court he has attempted to tamper with witnesses. Combs is detained ahead of trial and has been held in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn ever since. – Federal prosecutors file superseding indictment against Combs on January 30, 2025. – On March 14, 2025, Combs pleads not guilty in court. – On April 4, 2025, federal prosecutors add two new counts of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution related to 'Victim-2' that they allege occurred between 2021 and 2024, the report said. – Ten days later, Combs pleads not guilty to these two counts as well. – On April 25, 2025, Federal judge Arun Subramanian rules footage of Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, will be shown to the jury at his trial, the report added. Combs rejects a plea deal. – On May 5, 2025, jury selection for Combs' trial begins. Combs has pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, an AP report said. Prosecutors allege Combs used his 'power and prestige' as a music star to induce female victims into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances with male sex workers in events dubbed 'freak offs.' They say he coerced and abused women with help from a network of associates and employees while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings, the report added.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
What will Sean ‘Diddy' Combs wear during his sex trafficking trial day? Here, have a look
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is preparing to face the long-awaited trial on serious federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. The music mogul has been granted permission to wear civilian clothing during the trial instead of his prison-issued uniform. Now you might be wondering what Puff will wear on his trial day? Court documents cited by People Magazine detail that on Wednesday, Combs' legal team made a formal request for the 55-year-old to appear in court wearing non-prison clothing. ALSO READ| Once a hip-hop king, Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces trial that could send him to prison for life The Southern District of New York approved the motion, allowing him to have a limited wardrobe that includes up to five button-down shirts, five pairs of pants, five sweaters, five pairs of socks, and two pairs of shoes without laces. Earlier, Combs appeared in court dressed in a tan jail uniform. His trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 5, and is expected to run for approximately eight weeks. Combs was hit with the charges stemming from a sweeping indictment that was filed in September 2024 and led to his arrest in New York City. Prosecutors accuse him of using his business and music empire as a front for trafficking sex and coercing his victims. One of the more disturbing claims includes orchestrating notorious 'freak-offs' parties. On April 15, Combs faced additional charges related to Victim-2, including another count of sex trafficking and one for transportation to engage in prostitution. The disgraced music mogul has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied all the allegations brought against him. The latter carries a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison. On Wednesday, Cassie Ventura, the estranged girlfriend of Combs, is one of the expected witnesses at the trial. Notably, in November 2023, Ventura filed another lawsuit against Combs for sexual assault. It was settled just one day after that case was filed. ALSO READ| Hailey Bieber intervenes in a worrying Justin Bieber clip. Netizens are blaming Diddy for 'what he did to him' Other individuals, referred to as Victim-2 and Victim-4 in court documents, are also scheduled to testify but will do so anonymously to protect their identities. Since Ventura's lawsuit, dozens of additional lawsuits have emerged, alleging sexual misconduct by Combs.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sean 'Diddy' Combs appears in court, loses bid to delay sex-crimes trial
Sean 'Diddy' Combs appears in court, loses bid to delay sex-crimes trial Show Caption Hide Caption Judge won't delay criminal trial against Sean 'Diddy' Combs USA TODAY was in the courtroom in New York where Sean 'Diddy' Combs appeared ahead of his criminal trial. NEW YORK − The federal government's sex-crimes case against Sean "Diddy" Combs will soon be underway, underscoring an urgent push to hold one of the music industry's most prominent figures accountable. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled Friday against Combs' defense team's request to push back the start of his federal trial. At a roughly two-hour hearing April 18, Combs was seen smiling and waving to a few people as he exited the courtroom, including his mother, after a more emotionally subdued hearing than a previous one in March. The decision means Combs will go to trial May 5 in a high-profile case intertwining celebrity and power under the spotlight of federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges. The indictment against the music mogul emerged alongside dozens of separate civil suits suggesting a pattern of abusive behavior and exploitation spanning decades, including accusations of rape, sexual assault and physical violence. What we know now about Sean 'Diddy' Combs' pre-trial court appearance Sean "Diddy" Combs was in court for a pre-trial hearing in his federal sex crimes case. What was decided in today's hearing? Here is what we know now. The embattled music mogul, 55, was arrested in September and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts. The federal government is advancing ahead to rein in the music industry, which has faced criticism for enabling troublesome behavior behind the scenes. Read on for USA TODAY's updates from the courtroom. Diddy on Trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom with USA TODAY as Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces sex crimes and trafficking charges. Subscribe to the newsletter. Federal prosecutors scored another win on April 18. Subramanian ruled against the defense's motion to delay the date of Combs' trial two months after its scheduled May 5 start date. Combs' attorneys made the original request in a motion filed April 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. The ruling comes as Combs now faces two new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution of the unnamed "Victim-2" filed earlier this month. –Patrick Ryan Subramanian told the court there is no reason to think that the defense does not have sufficient time to put a defense together, roughly a month away from the May 5 start date. When Combs walked into the courtroom, he wasn't smiling but hugged every member of his legal team. Throughout the court hearing, Combs solemnly looked around the room multiple times. In some moments, he nodded along with his defense team, and at other times passed notes to his attorneys. –Patrick Ryan The judge granted alleged Victims 2, 3 and 4, as they are named in the indictment, the right to use a pseudonym throughout the trial, explaining that it is common practice with sexual violence and trafficking cases. Subramanian noted the importance of treating alleged victims with dignity and privacy and said there is "no clear reason" why names, addresses and places of employment should be made public. –Patrick Ryan The defense pushed back about the use of pseudonyms, saying that the anonymous alleged victims have already been out in public and given interviews about Combs. The prosecution argued, however, that just because victims have given interviews doesn't mean they included all of the explosive details of what allegedly happened and thus didn't waive their right to anonymity. –Patrick Ryan Prosecutors expressed concern about potential jurors disclosing their own experiences with sexual assault or violence in written questionnaires, arguing that potential jurors might be afraid of where the paper surveys would go and who might be reading their responses. They attorneys said questions about potential jurors' experiences should only be disclosed in person via interviews with the attorneys. The defense argued jurors might be afraid to discuss their experiences aloud and pushed for the written disclosure. Both sides reached a compromise: Questionnaires will include a box that allows potential jurors to choose whether they would prefer to speak about their experiences verbally or in writing. –Patrick Ryan Over an hour of back and forth between sides took place about potentially excluding testimony from clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Dawn Hughes. The prosecution argued that Hughes would be a blind expert, who would be brought in with no details about the case, and testify to fragmented memory, processing trauma and coping strategies. Prosecutors argued that Hughes could provide "relevant and helpful" context about subjects that potential jurors may not be familiar with, including "coercive control," speaking to how perpetrators exert power over alleged victims and why those alleged victims may continue to participate in sexual activity with their abusers as an act of self-preservation. However, the defense argued that Hughes has never spoken to any of the alleged victims and thus doesn't know the specifics of their experiences. Hughes' presented testimony is "cloaked in all this jargon and a patina of science" and her testimony is "useless and meaningless," the defense said, arguing that it would confuse the jurors or potentially push them to make inferences about the victims that might not have factual merit to the case. Subramanian said he would consider the arguments and rule later, but that only portions of Hughes' testimony would likely be allowed and without using the phrase "coercive control," with Hughes describing that concept with different wording. –Patrick Ryan Brian Steel, who represented rapper Young Thug in his own long-running legal battle and RICO trial, appeared at the federal court building as he joins Combs' legal team ahead of the trial. –Anika Reed Combs' mother, Janice Combs, arrived at court April 18, donning sunglasses and sporting a bright blonde bob as she entered the courthouse to support her son. –Anika Reed The Sean John founder's lawyers requested more time to prepare his defense in response to additional evidence and two new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution of "Victim-2." Combs' lawyers originally requested a two week-, and later, a two-month delay, claiming in an April 16 motion that there is "substantially new conduct" alleged in the expanded April 3 indictment, and that the U.S. government is still producing evidence. Why Sean 'Diddy' Combs is asking to delay sex trafficking trial by 2 months Combs' lawyers said in the filing that the proposed delay would allow Combs the "necessary time" to prepare his defense. In court documents filed April 17, the day before the court hearing, Combs' legal team also presented their case for excluding from the trial footage of Combs attacking then-girlfriend Cassie. –Taijuan Moorman and Edward Segarra The court hearing was scheduled to start at 11 a.m. ET on April 18. –Anika Reed When does Diddy's trial start? Combs' trial, which will take place in downtown Manhattan, is currently set to begin May 5 with jury selection. The trial's start date is the same day as the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, just miles away from the courthouse. On multiple occasions, Combs attended the exclusive annual gala, benefitting the museum's Costume Institute. –Anna Kaufman and Anika Reed Is Sean Combs in jail? Despite repeated attempts at bail, Combs was ordered to remain in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of trial — a ruling his legal team has challenged in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He's been jailed since his arrest on Sept. 16. –Anna Kaufman What is Diddy accused of? Combs' federal case involves a narrow number of alleged victims. Using RICO law, which is aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some whom were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" – sometimes dayslong sex performances that lawyers claim they have video of. In March, prosecutors submitted a second superseding indictment, updating the amended indictment from January that added three unnamed women who were allegedly victims of his so-called sex trafficking enterprise, which claims Combs subjected employees to forced labor under inhumane circumstances. In a third superseding indictment, prosecutors added two additional charges – one count of sex trafficking and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution of "Victim-2" – to the previous three charges against him. –Anna Kaufman What is a RICO charge? Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations contributing to criminal activity. Per Combs' indictment, prosecutors say his racketeering activity included "multiple acts of kidnapping," arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking, transportation for the purposes of prostitution and distribution of narcotics. –Anna Kaufman Exclusive: LAPD report shows cops didn't question Sean 'Diddy' Combs after 2022 shooting How is Cassie involved? Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a civil lawsuit in November 2023 that is widely viewed as the match that lit the flame for the mogul's current predicament. Cassie attack videos: Sean 'Diddy' Combs claims footage 'distorted,' shouldn't be shown at trial She accused her former partner of rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse, a series of allegations that opened the floodgates to dozens of damning civil complaints accusing the Bad Boy Records founder of various sexual assaults throughout his career. Combs and Ventura settled for an undisclosed amount a day after she filed her suit. –Anna Kaufman Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra, Anika Reed and Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY; Luc Cohen, Reuters
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sean 'Diddy' Combs appears in court, pleads not guilty to new criminal charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs appears in court, pleads not guilty to new criminal charges Show Caption Hide Caption Diddy news: Prosecutors add new charges to criminal case in indictment Embattled music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was hit with two additional sex crimes charges ahead of his May trial in New York City. Sean "Diddy" Combs has again pleaded not guilty to new charges brought against him by U.S. attorneys, who accuse him of turning his "multi-faceted business empire" into a "criminal enterprise" over two decades. Three weeks before Combs' criminal trial is set to begin, the 55-year-old Grammy-winning hip-hop mogul appeared in Manhattan court Monday afternoon for an arraignment. Reuters reports Combs entered a not guilty plea in response to the latest criminal indictment, filed April 3, that adds one count of sex trafficking and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution of "Victim-2" to the previous three charges against him. In the third superseding indictment, prosecutors claimed Combs' alleged behavior in the additional criminal claims took place from 2021 to 2024. In response to the revised indictment, Combs' legal team previously said in a statement to USA TODAY, "These are not new allegations or new accusers. These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion." USA TODAY has reached out to Combs' team for comment. What crimes is Diddy accused of committing? Combs now faces two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering ahead of his May 5 trial. He has adamantly maintained his innocence in the criminal case as well as in response to dozens of sexual assault lawsuits, which detail alleged events that date back to the 1990s, that have been filed over the past 1½ years. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York first unsealed its criminal charges against Combs on Sept. 17. Federal prosecutors have since leveled a few new accusations in three superseding indictments as their investigation continues to unfold. In prosecutors' second superseding indictment from March, new accusations against Combs claimed he subjected employees to forced labor under inhumane circumstances. Combs and his conspirators "maintained control over certain employees of the Combs Business" and "forced" them to "work long hours with little sleep, through use of, among other things, physical force, psychological harm, financial harm, and reputational harm, and/or threats of the same," per the indictment. This was an amended version of the first superseding indictment in January, which added three unnamed women who were allegedly victims of his so-called sex trafficking enterprise. Prosecutors allege that as part of Combs' alleged "criminal enterprise," he and his associates engaged in kidnapping, arson and physical violence, sex trafficking and forced labor, among other crimes. In November 2023, Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed — and quickly settled — a lawsuit with bombshell assault and abuse allegations against the Bad Boy Records founder. The unnamed "Victim 1" in the criminal indictment against Combs has been identified as Cassie. Combs is currently in jail after being denied bond multiple times. Jury selection is scheduled to start May 5, with an anticipated May 12 date for opening statements. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: (4673) and and en Español Contributing: Jay Stahl, USA TODAY
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy Decries Latest Indictment From Feds As Nothing New; Invading 'Private Sex Life'
For the second time in as many months, Sean 'Diddy Combs has been indicted on criminal charges by the Department of Justice. Heading towards a trial next month that could see the Grammy winner in prison for the rest of his life if found guilty by a jury, the 55-year-old Combs today lashed out at the feds once again, claiming with the latest superseding indictment they were trying to turn his kinky intimate life into crimes. More from Deadline Netflix Gets Fall Trial Start Against Director Who Allegedly Scammed $11M Out Of Streamer Diddy Garners Default Victory As Judge Tosses Out 1995 Rape Allegations From Notorious B.I.G. Party Diddy Forced Me To Perform Oral Sex On Him Or My Career Would Be Ruined, Male Photographer Claims In Sexual Battery Suit 'These are not new allegations or new accusers,' a spokesperson for the Bad Boy Records founder's Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos-led legal team said Friday of the two new charges that have raised the total charges against Combs to five. 'These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.' Out of luck on three occasions at trying to get out of being incarcerated at Brooklyn's hardcore Metropolitan Detention Center, Combs' already delayed trial is set to start on May 12 now. A second indictment handed down by the grand jury on March 6 that included forced labor claims superseded the original indictment back in September when the much-accused Combs was arrested by LAPD and federal officials in a NYC hotel lobby. That first indictment had one claim each of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Backed up in part by the quickly settled ($30 million) assault and abuse suit and more from Victim-1, a.k.a. longtime Cassie Ventura, the government claims Combs and his inner circle coerced women into marathon sexual encounters called 'freak-offs' with male and female prostitutes, drug use, threats of violence and imprisonment in the hotel rooms where the action was staged and videotaped. In the now third indictment, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York are centering on an unnamed Victim-2 over the two additional charges on Combs of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Between 2021 and 2024, the 'I Need A Girl' performer recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, and maintained Victim-2, and attempted, aided and abetted, and willfully caused Victim-2, to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that Victim-2 was engaging in commercial sex acts as a result of force, fraud, and coercion,' the new indictment says. The document filed this morning by the SDNY in Judge Arun Subramanian's docket, the new elements of the latest indictment adds: 'From at least in or about 2021, up to and including in or about 2024, in the Southern District ofNew York and elsewhere, SEAN COMBS, a/k/a 'Puff Daddy,' a/k/a 'P. Diddy,' a/k/a 'Diddy,' a/k/a 'PD,' a/k/a 'Love,' the defendant, knowingly transported individuals in interstate and foreign commerce with intent that the individuals engage in prostitution, and attempted, aided and abetted, and willfully caused the same, to wit, COMBS transported, aided and abetted, and willfully caused the transportation of multiple individuals, including but not limited to Victim-2 and commercial sex workers, in interstate and foreign commerce on multiple occasions with the intent that they engage in prostitution.' The SDNY had no comment when contacted by Deadline about the new indictment. Prosecutors are hoping to use the previously schedule April 25 pre-trial hearing to deal with repeatedly not guilty pleading Comb's third arraignment. However, it would be relatively simple for the defense to throw up not all together unwarranted roadblocks of needing more time to assess the new indictment or something along those lines. The result could derail the feds' anticipated timeline, and even push back the already once pushed back trial start. Throwing another potential spanner in the works, the defense is very likely to push back against the prosecution's desire to have measures put in place by the court to 'protect' the identities plus the 'dignity and privacy' of three of the four victims set to testify. Ventura has long let it be known she intends to take the stand under her own name. However, with allegations of intimidation and even witness tampering being made over the months against Combs, the feds are trying to alleviate the fears the other women have expressed about showing up in court. As Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said Friday in a heavily redacted filing: To protect their privacy, the Government respectfully requests that the Court take certain narrowly tailored measures at trial that are consistent with the protections multiple victims of sex crimes have been afforded in recent federal trials within this Circuit. Specifically, the Government requests that (1) Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4 be referred to at trial using only pseudonyms; (2) the Court preclude the defense from eliciting personally identifying details of those witnesses; and (3) the Court seal exhibits that contain the first and/or last names of Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4, with redacted versions to be made available to the public. This case has already received an exceptional amount of media coverage, which will presumably only increase as trial proceeds. Permitting these measures will prevent unnecessary public disclosure of the victims' identities, and the harassment from the media and others, undue embarrassment, and other adverse consequences that would almost certainly follow if these women were forced to reveal their true names publicly at trial. Up against dozens and dozens of civil actions (most from Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee) claiming assault and abuse by Combs, the once mini-mogul has claimed before that the real issue at play in his criminal trial is the prudishness of the government. Earlier this year, Combs and his legal team said that prosecutors are using 'racist' laws against him and desiring to 'police non-conforming sexual activity.' On February 24, the defense took a swing at 'unconstitutionally broad' search warrants that had been used on Combs, raids of his LA and Miami homes, devices, digital storage and more. More recently, Combs has sought to discredit the shocking 2016 video that CNN obtained last year of the White Party host half naked chasing Ventura down an LA hotel hallway, beating her and dragging her back to his room where allegedly one of his so-called freak offs was happening. On March 13 this year, CNN strongly denied Combs' claims they altered the timestamp and fundamentally re-edited the violent footage. Best of Deadline '1923' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 So Far Everything We Know About 'Hacks' Season 4 So Far
