After being charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and other crimes by the District Attorney’s Office, “Diddy” Combs was denied bail. The judge says “clear and convincing evidence” was presented.
A judge on Wednesday refused to grant bail to Sean “Diddy” Combs, saying prosecutors presented “clear and convincing evidence” of possible interference with witnesses.
U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter issued the ruling after prosecutors and defense attorneys argued for a $50 million bond that would allow Combs to be placed under house arrest with GPS monitoring and strict limitations on who could visit him. The Public Prosecutor’s Office accused the musician of sex trafficking, extortion and other crimes.
At a first hearing on Tuesday, another judge had already denied bail to the music mogul. Combs, 54, pleaded not guilty Tuesday.after the Public Prosecutor’s Office accused him of using his “power and prestige” to induce female victims – who were drug addicts – and male workers to perform sexual shows, called “Freak Offs”.
The indictment alleges that the music mogul coerced and abused women for years, with the help of a network of associates and employees, while using blackmail and acts of violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings, to prevent victims from coming forward.
Combs has been in federal custody since his arrest. Monday night at a Manhattan hotel.
In March, two of Diddy’s properties were searched in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex trafficking investigation. The searches were conducted by federal agents from the Homeland Security Investigations Office as part of an investigation by federal authorities in New York.
In recent months, several lawsuits have been filed against the artist for alleged sexual assault. In November, he was the subject of a report alleging years of physical violence by R&B singer Casandra Venura, whose stage name is Cassie.
Hip-hop mogul charged with assault and sex trafficking: Sean “Diddy” Combs remains in custody
Combs is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a prison on the Brooklyn, New York, waterfront, where he was taken after being charged with several crimes.
The prison, which holds about 1,200 inmates, is the subject of frequent complaints from lawyers and some judges that it is overcrowded, violent and neglected.
Formerly known as Puff Daddy, Combs is one of the most influential hip-hop producers and artists of the past three decades and has built one of the largest empires linked to this musical genre with several entities linked to his name.
He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy Award winner, and has worked with other renowned artists including Notorious BIG, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
He also created the Sean John clothing line, launched the music channel Revolt TV and produced the reality show Making the Band for MTV.
Source: Observadora
