Prosecutor Says Diddy Used Violence and Fear to Traffic Women

Sean “Diddy” Combs, once one of the most powerful figures in American music and culture, now faces the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars. In closing arguments Thursday, federal prosecutors told a Manhattan jury that Combs ran a criminal enterprise built on “power, violence, and fear” to traffic women for sex including his own girlfriends.

“The defendant used power, violence, and fear to get what he wanted,” said prosecutor Christy Slavik. “He thought that his fame, wealth, and power put him above the law.”

• Combs faces charges including racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, with a potential sentence of 15 years to life.

• Two women R&B singer Cassie Ventura and another identified only as Jane testified they were coerced into participating in sex acts for Combs’ pleasure during drug-fueled events known as “Freak Offs.”

• Jurors were shown surveillance video of Combs beating a woman, and heard testimony from employees about setting up hotel rooms and procuring drugs.

While Combs has pleaded not guilty, the evidence has been damning. Prosecutors highlighted text messages and testimony showing the women feared retaliation if they refused his demands. One message from Jane noted she complied only because she feared Combs would stop paying her rent.

Defense attorneys, expected to deliver their closing arguments Friday, have acknowledged Combs was “occasionally violent” but argue the sexual activity was consensual. They contend that there’s no conspiracy, as employees were unaware of any coercion.

But the government argues otherwise: “It doesn’t require them to say no, it doesn’t require them to try to run away,” Slavik told the jury. “If even one ‘Freak Off’ was coerced, it’s trafficking.”

The trial has peeled back the glamorous curtain surrounding Combs, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse, manipulation, and raw intimidation all allegedly masked by celebrity status and wealth.

With deliberations expected to begin soon, the case now hinges on whether the jury believes the testimony of two deeply scarred women or the defense’s portrayal of a complicated but consensual relationship.

The verdict could redefine how America views its celebrities and whether power still buys immunity.

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