Benjamin Ashford|Sean "Diddy" Combs Allegedly Forced Victims Into Drug-Fueled "Freak-Off" Sex Performances

Content warning: This article details alleged violence as well as physical and Benjamin Ashfordsexual abuse.

More disturbing details about Sean "Diddy" Combs’ legal case have come to light.

A newly unsealed federal indictment obtained by E! News details the rapper’s charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution hours after he was arrested in New York.

The indictment alleged that Combs coerced female victims into participating in sexual performances, which he allegedly dubbed "Freak Offs," that occurred regularly for hours or even days. Combs "arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded" the performances, per the documents.

"During Freak Offs, Combs distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant,” the indictment alleged. "After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use."

Combs is accused of hitting, kicking, throwing objects and dragging victims during and after these sexual encounters, with injuries taking days or weeks to heal.

Per the indictment, methods to pressure victims included "force, threats of force, and coercion" to "engage in extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers."

The 54-year-old is also accused, per the documents, of using "promises of career opportunities, granting and threatening to withhold financial support" as well as "tracking their whereabouts, dictating the victims' appearance, monitoring their medical records, controlling their housing, and supplying them with controlled substances."

According to the indictment, the "Freak Offs" took a number of people to organize, which included allegedly transporting "commercial sex workers across state lines and internationally" with the help of members and associates, referred to in the documents as "the Combs Enterprise." The associates included, alleged the docs, "high-ranking supervisors, security staff, household staff, personal assistants, and other Combs Business employees."

Their responsibilities in facilitating these events included arranging travel, booking hotel rooms and stocking them with supplies, cleaning the rooms, ensuring Combs had cash to pay the sex workers and scheduling IV fluids, per the documents.

Combs, who arrived in New York Sept. 17 to face charges, has not yet addressed the latest details.

His attorney Marc Agnifilo, however, did speak to reporters outside the courthouse after Combs’ arrival.

"He came to New York to basically engage the court system and start the case, and it will start today and he’s going to plead not guilty," Agnifilo said per NBC News. "He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers."

"Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts," he continued. "These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court."

Keep reading for a breakdown of the case against Combs.

(E! News and NBC News and part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed search warrants at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami properties on March 25, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to NBC News.  

The sources told the outlet the warrant was out of the Southern District of New York, and a spokesperson for HSI New York confirmed to E! News it “executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.” 

Law enforcement sources told NBC News the music mogul was in the Miami area when the search warrants were executed. 

News about the investigation broke after Combs faced allegations of sexual misconduct in lawsuits filed by multiple accusers starting in November, with the musician denying the allegations. 

“Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday,” he wrote in a December statement posted on Instagram. “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.” 

The day after HSI executed the search warrants at Combs' L.A. and Miami properties, his lawyer spoke out. 

"Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs' residences," attorney Aaron Dyer said in a March 26 statement to E! News. "There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated." 

Dyer noted Combs “was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.”  

“Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way,” his lawyer's statement continued. “This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads  to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.” 

And Dyer expressed Combs' intent to defend himself.

“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations,” he added. “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

As for what actually went down during the searches, multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the warrant told NBC News authorities with the Department of Homeland Security seized phones from Combs’ home in Miami before he was scheduled to travel to the Bahamas, and several sources familiar with the matter added that guns were discovered during the search.

One source familiar with the matter also told NBC News three women and one man were interviewed by prosecutors and investigators from the Southern District of New York about allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms purportedly tied to Combs.

On the same day the search warrants were executed at Combs’ Miami and Los Angeles properties, one of his associates, Brendan Paul, was arrested by the Miami-Dade police on suspicion of drug possession, a law enforcement source familiar with the matter told NBC News. 

According to the Miami-Dade arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet, Paul was taken into custody for allegedly possessing suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana candy. 

Prison records obtained by NBC News show Paul was released on March 26 after posting bond.

“We do not plan on trying this case in the media,” Paul’s attorney Brian Bieber said in a statement obtained by the outlet, “all issues will be dealt with in court.” 

In May, Paul accepted a plea deal, with his lawyer Bieber telling People, "Brendan accepted the prosecutor’s offer to permit his entry into the diversion program which, after completion, the case against him will be dismissed in its entirety."

He was arrested in the lobby of a New York hotel on Sept. 16, 2024, according to NBC News. It's unclear what Combs has been charged with and if the arrest has any potential connection to the raids.

“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office," his lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in a statement to E! News. "He is an imperfect person but Is not criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges."

After Combs was arrested based on the sealed indictment, the indictment was unsealed on Sept. 17.

The 54-year-old was charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; as well as transportation to engage in prostitution, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.

The indictment alleged Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct” for more than a decade, with prosecutors saying the purported behavior started around 2008.

"To do so," the documents stated, "Combs 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."

According to NBC News, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters outside the New York courthouse that the Grammy winner would plead not guilty.

“He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might,” the lawyer added, per the outlet, “and the full confidence of his lawyers."