Prosecutors in New York have expanded the case against rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, bringing new accusations that deepen the charges against him. The updated indictment, filed on Thursday, introduces two additional women who allege Combs coerced them into commercial sex acts and further details violent claims, including an instance where he allegedly dangled a person over an apartment balcony.
Combs, who has been in jail since September, was originally indicted on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The fresh allegations expand on the previous case, although no new charges have been added. His legal team has vehemently denied all accusations, including both the federal criminal case and over 30 civil lawsuits.
The updated indictment includes accusations that Combs used threats, force, and coercion to compel at least three women to engage in sex acts for commercial purposes. The new filing also extends the timeline of these alleged crimes, shifting the start of his sex trafficking offenses to 2004, four years earlier than previously stated. Additionally, prosecutors have expanded the list of drugs Combs allegedly used to control his victims. These now include methamphetamine and psychedelic mushrooms, alongside the previously cited cocaine, oxycodone, and ketamine.
One of the most shocking new details involves a video from 2016 showing Combs kicking, dragging, and throwing a vase at Cassandra Ventura, a singer who previously sued him for rape and sex trafficking. The video was allegedly obtained after Combs paid hotel security $100,000 to suppress it. However, the footage was leaked to CNN in 2023, leading Combs to express disgust and admit seeking professional help for the incident. Ventura described the abuse she endured as “breaking me down to someone I never thought I’d become.”
Further adding to the severity of the indictment, prosecutors have now also accused Combs of assaulting employees, witnesses, and others who may have been present during the abuse. One of the new claims mirrors a civil lawsuit filed by fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, who claims Combs dangled her from a balcony.
As Combs’s trial approaches in May, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo has dismissed the updated accusations as baseless, accusing the prosecution of launching a “witch hunt.” The legal battle is far from over, with federal investigators indicating that the case could see further developments before trial.
