Thalia Graves becomes 11th accuser in Diddy's ongoing legal battle over sex trafficking

Prosecutors allege Diddy used drugs, violence, and "lure female victims" into prolonged sexual encounters.


Pop Culture & Art September 25, 2024
Courtesy: AFP

Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is currently in federal custody, awaiting trial on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

His arrest in New York last week follows multiple civil suits accusing him of sexual assault and physical violence, with some allegations dating back to the 1990s.

The latest, and 11th, accuser to come forward, Thalia Graves, alleges that Combs and his bodyguard drugged, tied up, and raped her in 2001, while also filming the incident.

The rapper, originally from Harlem, has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Combs, 54, was arrested on Monday, 16 September, at a New York hotel on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, and transporting individuals for prostitution.

Federal prosecutors accuse him of "creating a criminal enterprise" where he "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfil his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct."

They also claim that Combs used drugs, violence, and his influence to "lure female victims" into extended sexual encounters, referred to as "Freak Offs."

Additionally, authorities uncovered firearms, ammunition, and over 1,000 bottles of lubricant during raids on Combs's properties in Miami and Los Angeles in March.

Prosecutors have reportedly been in contact with several former employees of Combs, as well as some of the women currently suing him, and more charges may be forthcoming.

The singer and producer has pleaded not guilty to the three felony charges, with his attorney stating he is a "fighter" who is "not afraid of the charges."

Combs is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a federal facility known for its violence and poor conditions.

The MDC houses a special extra-security section with barracks-style accommodations for high-profile detainees, and reports indicate that Combs is sharing this space with convicted cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried.

His legal team sought his release before trial due to the "horrific" conditions at the jail, but prosecutors argued that Combs was "a serious flight risk," resulting in two denials of bail.

If convicted, he faces a prison sentence ranging from 15 years to life.

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