Despite the absence of a trial date, a federal magistrate has ordered Sean "Diddy" Combs to be held without bail until he is tried for sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
In order to obtain a bond for his client, Marc Agnifilo, Diddy's attorney, informed reporters outside the New York City courthouse on Tuesday, Sep. 17, 2024, that he would be submitting an appeal the following day.
“Mr. Combs is a fighter … he’s not afraid of the charges,” the attorney stated of Diddy. “He’s been looking forward to this day, he’s been looking forward to clearing his name. He didn’t do these things.”
“All we can do is show good faith. He got on a plane and he came here,” he added. “They arrested a guy who came here to turn himself in.”
On Monday, Sep. 16, 2024, Diddy, 54, was apprehended and charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Federal prosecutors successfully persuaded Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky that Diddy should remain in detention due to his prior contact with victims and witnesses, which could potentially obstruct the case and intimidate the witnesses if he were released on bail.
Additionally, they observed that the rapper of "I'll Be Missing You" was a flight risk due to his substantial affluence and access to private planes.
“As set forth below, there is no condition, or combination of conditions, that will reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant as required and the safety of others and the community, not to mention the integrity of the proceedings," the prosecutors stated. "[He] poses a significant risk of obstructing justice. As reflected by the gravity of the charges in the Indictment, the defendant is dangerous and poses an ongoing threat to the safety of the community.”
Diddy's bail appeal will be decided by an independent magistrate.
Diddy's attorneys had previously stated that he would be willing to post a $50 million bond and offered his $48 million Miami mansion and his mother's property as collateral in lieu of cash, according to TMZ.
The Bad Boy Records magnate also consented to wear a GPS ankle monitor and restrict his travel to the South Florida and New York region, according to the outlet.
On Sep. 8, 2024, Diddy listed his Los Angeles residence for $61.5 million. Amid allegations of sex trafficking and abuse, federal agents conducted an investigation on the residence in March.
On Tuesday, Sep. 17, 2024, In Touch Weekly was informed exclusively by a source that Miami is Diddy's residence “and he doesn’t need the L.A. place.” A distinct insider disclosed that Diddy requires immediate funding to cover legal expenses.
“Defending him against these serious charges is a huge undertaking, and it’s gotten very expensive,” stated the source. “He will hate to part with it, but he has no other choice,” The insider also mentioned the 17,000-square-foot residence, which boasts 10 bedrooms and 13 restrooms.
In the unsealed indictment obtained by In Touch Weekly on Sep. 17, 2024, a grand jury alleged that Diddy had abused, intimidated, and coerced women and others in his vicinity to “fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”
“To do so, [Diddy] relied on the employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled — creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”
The indictment accused Diddy of engaging in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women, whereas the complaint alleged that Diddy was verbally, physically, and sexually abusive.
