In a judicial criminal case scheduled for trial next month, music mogul Sean” Puffy” Combs entered a not-guilty plea on Monday to two additional federal claims of sex trafficking and travel to engage in prostitution.
A superseding indictment details a second alleged victim, who has been identified in court records as” Victim-2.” As prosecutors expand the case to include five criminal counts, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution, Combs, 55, appeared in Manhattan federal court to enter a plea.
Combs is accused of abusing, threatened, and coercing women and other people around him to fulfill his sexual desires, keep his reputation afloat, and conceal his actions for two decades. Further, they assert that he financed a criminal organization that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice using his business empire and staff.
The Grammy-winning artist is accused of organizing drug-fueled sex parties, using threats and violence to intimidate attendees, and stifling employees. He has long been a well-known figure in the hip-hop scene. Combs has refuted all allegations, arguing that “any sex acts were consensual.”
Judge Arun Subramanian, who is in charge of the case, stated at the hearing on Monday that” we are a freight train moving toward trial.” However, Combs ‘ attorney Marc Agnifilo indicated that the defense may request a brief delay because it needs to examine new evidence, including emails that have not previously been provided by a key witness. The defense had until Wednesday, April 16, to submit a written request.
On May 5, jury selection is expected to begin the trial, though the timing may alter depending on the court’s decision regarding the delay.
Combs has been incarcerated since September 2024, and his legal issues have grown in response to a growing number of public accusations and civil lawsuits. When singer Cassie Ventura accused him of a decade of abuse and rape, the case attracted national attention in late 2023.
With the assistance of his staff and close associates, Combs is still facing a number of civil lawsuits, all of which relate to abuse, coercion, and misconduct.
