Sean “Diddy” Combs is now facing additional charges in the ongoing criminal racketeering and sex trafficking case against him, following the unsealing of a superseding grand jury indictment on Friday in the United States.
The revised indictment includes a further charge of sex trafficking and another for transporting a person with the intent to engage in prostitution. These new allegations involve a woman identified only as “Victim-2” by prosecutors. If convicted, the extra charges could lead to an extended prison sentence for the 55-year-old music mogul.
Prosecutors have asked that Combs be formally arraigned on the new charges on 25 April, a date that coincides with the final pre-trial conference before the trial officially begins in May.
Combs stands accused of orchestrating a network of sexual abuse, coercing victims into drug-fuelled sexual encounters through threats and violence. Prosecutors also allege that he subjected employees to excessive working hours while pressuring them into silence. Combs has consistently denied all allegations, claiming that any sexual activity was entirely consensual.
The trial, which is expected to draw significant public attention, is scheduled to commence with jury selection on 5 May. Opening statements are anticipated to begin on 12 May.
Public scrutiny of Combs intensified in late 2023 after singer Cassie, real name Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit accusing him of subjecting her to over a decade of physical abuse, drug-induced coercion, and rape in 2018. Although that particular lawsuit was settled out of court, it triggered a cascade of civil complaints.
In addition to the federal criminal charges, Combs is currently battling multiple civil lawsuits, many of which paint a disturbing picture of systematic abuse allegedly supported by a close-knit circle of loyal staff and associates.
The former rap icon, who has been in custody since September, has reportedly appeared visibly aged during court appearances, sporting a greying beard and salt-and-pepper hair.
