Sean 'Diddy' Combs Denied Bail, Will Remain in Jail Until Trial in Sex Trafficking and Extortion Case

A New York federal judge denied bail to Sean “Diddy” Combs at a hearing on Tuesday (September 17), leaving the once-powerful rapper and music executive behind bars as he awaits trial on sweeping sexual assault charges.

The charges, unsealed earlier Tuesday, accuse Combs of running a decades-long extortion scheme that included sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson and bribery. If convicted of all charges, he could face up to life in prison.

At an initial hearing Tuesday in front of a packed Manhattan courtroom, Combs formally pleaded not guilty to each of the three charges he faces. His lawyers also asked that he be released on $50 million bail, saying he would surrender his passport and undergo continuous monitoring.

But according to Associated PressJudge Robyn F. Tarnofsky sided with prosecutors, who had warned that the billionaire executive remained a flight risk and might intimidate witnesses if released. He ruled that Combs' lawyers had not overcome the “presumption” that defendants in such serious cases should remain behind bars.

Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, was once one of the most powerful men in the music industry. But he has faced a flood of civil lawsuits in recent months over allegations of sexual abuse, starting with a high-profile case last year by his former longtime girlfriend Cassie Ventura. That lawsuit was quickly settled, but was later confirmed by a widely shared video of Combs attacking Ventura in a hotel.

In Tuesday's indictment, prosecutors accused Combs of running an extensive criminal enterprise aimed at satisfying his need for “sexual gratification.” The charges described “horrendous phenomena” in which Combs and others allegedly drugged victims and then forced them to have sex with male sex workers, as well as alleged acts of violence and intimidation to keep the victims silent.

“For decades, Sean Combs … abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and hide his behavior,” prosecutors wrote in the indictment. “To do this, Combs relied on the employees, resources and influence of his multifaceted business empire that he led and controlled.”

Before Tuesday's hearing, both sides made detailed arguments to the judge about whether Combs should be held pending a jury trial, which could still be months away.

Combs' defense lawyers said he was “extremely credible” and had shown “excellent” cooperation by flying to New York to allow himself to be arrested on Monday. They offered to post $50 million bail, place him under house arrest with GPS monitoring, and even sell his private jet.

“Sean Combs has never shirked, avoided, escaped or run from a challenge in his life,” his lawyers wrote. “It won't start now. As he has faced every difficulty, he will face this case head on, work hard to defend himself and prevail.”

But prosecutors argued that Combs was a “serial offender” who had a history of both violence and witness intimidation, raising the prospect that he could try to obstruct the case against him. They also said he remained a flight risk even under his proposed conditions, citing his “seemingly unlimited resources” and the looming threat of life in prison.

“In short, if the defendant wanted to flee, he has the money, manpower and tools to do so quickly and undetected,” prosecutors wrote. “The defendant's lack of access to his passport or private jet would not negate the fact that the defendant could easily buy his way to justice.”

After Tuesday's hearing before a judge, Combs is set for an initial pretrial conference next week before Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr., the federal district judge who will oversee the trial.