Sean "Diddy" Combs Faces New Charges as Trial Looms

By Dominica Bernhard

Sean "Diddy" Combs, the influential hip-hop mogul and founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, is confronting a fresh wave of legal challenges as federal prosecutors in New York have added two new charges to his already sprawling indictment. The latest development, announced on April 4, 2025, escalates the stakes for Combs, who now faces a total of five criminal counts related to allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering. With his trial set to begin on May 5, 2025, in Manhattan federal court, the case continues to cast a long shadow over his once-unassailable legacy in the music industry.

New Charges Expand the Case

The third superseding indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York, introduces an additional count of sex trafficking and another count of transportation to engage in prostitution. These charges center on a second victim, referred to as "Victim-2," whom prosecutors allege Combs "recruited, enticed, harboured, transported, and maintained" to engage in commercial sex acts between 2021 and 2024. This timeline extends the alleged criminal conduct into recent years, building on earlier accusations that spanned from 2004 to 2018 and involved a different victim, "Victim-1."

Previously, Combs faced three counts: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, stemming from his arrest in September 2024 at a New York hotel. The new charges amplify the prosecution’s narrative that Combs used his vast business empire—including his iconic record label—to orchestrate a decades-long scheme of coercion, abuse, and exploitation. Among the most serious allegations is the claim that Combs organized drug-fuelled sexual events dubbed "Freak Offs," involving male sex workers transported across state lines, often recorded for leverage over participants.

A Pattern of Alleged Abuse

The expanded indictment paints a grim picture of Combs’ alleged behavior, accusing him of wielding his power and prestige to manipulate and intimidate victims. Prosecutors assert that he employed violence, threats, and coercion—sometimes displaying firearms—to enforce compliance. A notable incident cited in the updated charges alleges that Combs dangled a female victim over an apartment balcony, a detail that underscores the physical danger victims reportedly faced. The indictment also claims that Combs’ employees and associates played a critical role in facilitating these acts, arranging logistics and covering up the abuse.

Earlier filings detailed the discovery of drugs, 1,000 bottles of baby oil, and AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers during raids on Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami homes in March 2024. These findings bolster the prosecution’s case that his operations constituted a "criminal enterprise" designed to protect his reputation and silence victims through blackmail, bribery, and violence.

Combs’ Defense Fights Back

Combs, 55, has steadfastly denied all allegations, pleading not guilty to each iteration of the indictment. His legal team, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, has dismissed the new charges as recycled claims lacking fresh accusers or evidence. In a statement to multiple outlets, including PEOPLE and CBS News, they argued, "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."

The defense has consistently framed the prosecution as an overreach, accusing authorities of attempting to "police non-conforming sexual activity" rather than proving criminal intent. They point to a 2016 hotel surveillance video—showing Combs striking and kicking his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura—as a misrepresented snapshot of a complex, consensual relationship rather than evidence of trafficking. Agnifilo has also challenged the use of such footage, claiming it was altered or taken out of context.

A High-Stakes Trial Ahead

Combs remains incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been held without bail since his arrest. Multiple attempts to secure his release have failed, with prosecutors citing his wealth and influence as risks for flight or witness tampering. His trial, scheduled to commence with jury selection in late April, promises to be a media spectacle, drawing intense scrutiny to both the allegations and Combs’ storied career.

The case has already reverberated beyond the courtroom. Since the initial indictment, Combs has faced dozens of civil lawsuits from individuals alleging sexual misconduct, some dating back decades. These claims, combined with the federal charges, have tarnished the reputation of a man once celebrated for launching the careers of artists like Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Usher.

What’s Next?

As the May 5 trial date approaches, federal prosecutors have requested that Combs be arraigned on the new charges during a final pre-trial conference on April 25. They aim to present testimony from four accusers, three of whom seek to use pseudonyms to shield their identities from public exposure—a move reflecting the case’s sensitivity and the potential for harassment.

For Combs, the stakes could not be higher. Conviction on the sex trafficking charges carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence if found guilty of racketeering conspiracy. As the legal battle intensifies, the world watches to see whether Sean "Diddy" Combs can reclaim his narrative—or if this chapter will mark the downfall of a hip-hop titan.

Dominica Bernhard is a freelance writer for Veritas Expositae.  You can reach her at dominica.bernhard@veritasexpositae.com