The Indictment of Sean "Puffy" Combs -- RICO Conspiracy, Sex Trafficking, and Interstate Transportation to Facilitate Prostitution

Apparently the Combs' Organization drew the line at child sex trafficking -- this combination of charges could result in a effective life sentence.

No — that is not a mug shot. I expect we’ll be seeing some pictures of Puff Diddy not wearing a tuxedo fairly soon.

Unsealed in the Southern District of New York this morning was a three count indictment charging Sean Combs with leading a RICO Conspiracy, Sex Trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and interstate transportation of females to facility prostitution. Combs was arrested on Monday evening in Manhattan, spent the night in the federal detention center, and made an appearance on Tuesday morning in federal court to be arraigned on the indictment.

The Monday night surprise arrest is interesting. Given Combs’ wealth, one would expect that he will be able to post cash or property for bail if a judge determines that his release would not pose a flight risk or a danger to the community. By arresting him in the evening the DOJ guaranteed that he would spend at least one night in custody before the issue of bail would even be addressed.

Another interesting aspect is that even thought Combs is charged with a RICO conspiracy, he is charged at this point as a solo defendant. That strongly suggests that others involved have cooperated in the investigation. Anyone having done so is either going to escape charges, or will likely be charged separately in cases where a disposition has already been agreed to.

Also of interest is the fact that none of Combs’ various businesses are named as defendants.

Here is a sampling of some of the allegations, general and specific, that are set forth in the Indictment:

COMBS manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers… COMBS ensured participation from the women by, among other things, obtaining and distributing narcotics to them, controlling their careers, leveraging his financial support and threatening to cut offthe same, and using intimidation and violence.

The bolded language suggests that some of the victims may be entertainers. That means they have been witnesses up to this point. Whether they will ever be identified is discussed further below.