Geo That's the latest on the arrest of Sean Diddy Combs, the music mogul facing federal racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. The case follows a year long, years long fall from grace and ABC's Morgan Norwood has looked at how we got here. Good morning, Morgan. Just a wild story.
Morgan Hi, Geo. Just a staggering fall from grace that started with that lawsuit, a former girlfriend - Cassie Ventura, alleging years of abuse and since then, Diddy has been at the center of multiple lawsuits, federal raids and now a sweeping indictment. The feds are looking to quickly close in on alleged co-conspirators who for years kept quiet and helped keep that alleged criminal enterprise running.
This morning, the sex trafficking case against Sean Diddy Combs moving full speed ahead. Lawyers for Combs and prosecutors set to hold a status conference to determine the next phase following the sweeping indictment alleging the music mogul leveraged his business empire, power and prestige to abuse his alleged victims.
US. Attorney He used his business and employees of that business and other close associates to get his way. Those individuals allegedly included high-ranking supervisors in the business - personal assistance, security staff and household staff.
Morgan As the disgraced rapper faces racketeering, conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges, investigators now working to determine who his alleged co-conspirators were and whether they too should be charged.
54-years-old Combs pleading not guilty to charges that he led a racketeering conspiracy that abused women.
Diddy's lawyer "I'm gonna fight like hell to get him released, and he should be released."
Morgan The indictment alleged some of Combs's employees helped set off so-called "freak-offs" in which women were forced into sex acts with male prostitutes.
US. Attorney He used the embarrassing and sensitive recordings he made of the freak offs as collateral against the victims.
Morgan Prosecutors said authorities seized records along with firearms, drugs and more than 1000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant during raids last March on Daddy's homes in Miami and Los Angeles.
Combs has been under criminal investigation since his former partner and recording artist Cassie Ventura accused him in a November civil lawsuit of rape, repeated abuse and even sex trafficking.
At the center of the case, this 2016 video, exclusively obtained by CNN showing the 2016 altercation. Common surveillance video of Combs grabbing and kicking Ventura, the lawsuit was settled with no admission of wrongdoing, Combs issuing an apology video back in May.
Diddy I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.
Morgan Since then, the rapper, the subject of multiple civil lawsuits allegations which he has denied.
At home has reportedly amassed of $1 billion fortune after he shot to fame in the 1990s with hits like "it's all about the Benjamins", launching the label Bad Boy Records and the successful careers of Mary J Blige, Usher and notorious BIG.
Later expanding his brand into fashion, fragrances and alcohol, that business empire now in jeopardy.
Legal analyst Sean Combs also faces a forfeiture in this criminal case where the government says that anything involving this criminal enterprise could be forfeited to the. U.S. government.
Morgan And Diddy remains behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn? If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison, guys.
Anchor We will hear so much about this because everyone is talking about it and watching this case. Morgan, thank you.
Source:
Good Morning America. (2024, September 22). Deep dive into Diddy’s latest lawsuits [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db87uGxpdK0