News Americas, New York, NY, September 17, 2024: US Attorney for the Caribbean, Andre Damian Williams Jr. is leading the high-profile case against rapper, producer and entrepreneur Sean Combs, also known as “Puff Daddy,” “P. Diddy,” “PD,” and “Love.” Combs, 54, was arrested Sept. 16 and faces on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution in a three-count indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Williams, the son of Jamaican immigrants, was born in New York City and raised in Atlanta. He attended Harvard University and Yale Law School, where he earned his law degree in 2007. After clerking for prominent judges, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, Williams worked at the firm prestigious law school before joining the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he now heads.
The charges against Combs allege that since 2008, he has led a criminal enterprise involved in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping and other crimes. The indictment details Combs’ exploitation of women through violence, intimidation and abuse of power within his business empire. Williams made a public appeal for victims to come forward, saying, “This investigation is not over.”
According to the indictment, from at least 2008 to the present, Combs operated a criminal enterprise that existed to facilitate the abuse and exploitation of women, to protect his reputation and to conceal his conduct. As part of that criminal enterprise, according to the indictment, from at least 2008 to the present, Cobms operated a criminal enterprise that existed to facilitate the abuse and exploitation of women, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct. As part of that criminal enterprise, COMBS, along with other members and associates of the enterprise, committed crimes, including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
Among other things, Combs’ sexual abuse of the women included causing them to engage in frequent sexual activities lasting several days with male commercial sex workers, some of whom were transported across state lines. These events, which Combs called “Freak Offs,” were elaborate sex shows that Combs organized, directed, and often recorded electronically. To secure participation in the Freak Offs, Combs used violence and intimidation, and used his power over the victims—power he gained by obtaining and distributing narcotics to them, leveraging his financial support for them, and threatening to interrupting the same and controlling their career. Combs also threatened his victims, including threatening to expose the obscene and sensitive recordings he made for Freak Offs if the women did not comply with his demands.
Combs’ attempts to control the women included repeated physical abuse. Combs attacked women by, among other things, hitting, punching, dragging, throwing objects and kicking them. Combs similarly attacked witnesses to his abuse. These attacks often resulted in injuries to the victims that took days or weeks to heal.
To commit these crimes, COMBS relied on his power as the leader of a multifaceted business empire. Employees of Combs’ businesses – including high-ranking supervisors, security personnel, personal assistants and house staff – acted as Combs’ intermediaries to arrange, among other things, travel and hotel rooms; shares of hotel rooms for Combs’ commercial sex activity; contact or locate women and other individuals whom he has targeted for abuse; and hide and cover up abuse. This criminal cover-up included efforts to prevent law enforcement from learning of his abuse. He, along with other members and associates of the enterprise, committed crimes including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction. of justice.
Among other things, Combs’ sexual abuse of the women included causing them to engage in frequent sexual activities lasting several days with male commercial sex workers, some of whom were transported across state lines. These events, which Combs called “Freak Offs,” were elaborate sex shows that Combs organized, directed, and often recorded electronically. To secure participation in the Freak Offs, Combs used violence and intimidation, and used his power over the victims—power he gained by obtaining and distributing narcotics to them, leveraging his financial support for them, and threatening to interrupting the same and controlling their career. Combs also threatened his victims, including threatening to expose the obscene and sensitive recordings he made for Freak Offs if the women did not comply with his demands.
Combs’ attempts to control the women included repeated physical abuse. Combs attacked the women by, among other things, hitting, punching, dragging, throwing objects and kicking them. Combs similarly attacked witnesses to his abuse. These attacks often resulted in injuries to the victims that took days or weeks to heal.
To commit these crimes, Combs relied on his power as the leader of a multifaceted business empire. Employees of Combs’ businesses – including high-ranking supervisors, security personnel, personal assistants and house staff – acted as Combs’ intermediaries to arrange, among other things, travel and hotel rooms; shares of hotel rooms for Combs’ commercial sex activity; contact or locate women and other individuals whom he has targeted for abuse; and hide and cover up abuse. This criminal cover-up included efforts to prevent law enforcement from learning of his abuse.
If convicted, Combs faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and was denied bail. Prosecutors argued that Combs had attempted to contact witnesses and victims, making him a flight risk.
For those who believe they are victims of Combs’ alleged crimes, authorities urge them to contact Homeland Security Investigations at [email protected] or through their mobile information line at 1-877-4-HSITIP and refer to this case.
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