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Combs, 55, pleaded not guilty to an expanded indictment against him during a hearing on Monday, April 14, according to a report by People.
The disgraced music icon faces one more count each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, which are both connected to a plaintiff only named as "Victim-2" in the indictment, the outlet reported.
Combs, a New York City native who grew up in Westchester County's Mount Vernon, was originally arrested on Sept. 17, 2024, on three counts, which included charges of federal sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering.
According to the new indictment, Combs "recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, maintained, patronized and solicited [Victim-2], and attempted, aided and abetted, and willfully caused [Victim-2], to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that Victim-2 was engaging in commercial sex acts as a result of force, fraud, and coercion," according to People.
The outlet also reported a statement given to them by Combs' attorneys: "These are not new allegations or new accusers. These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships...This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.”
The new charges follow the departure of one of Combs' past attorneys, Anthony Ricco, who filed a motion to leave the case in late February after saying he could no longer "continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice," as Daily Voice reported.
Combs's remaining legal team is now preparing for the hip-hop mogul's upcoming trial, which is set to begin in May. This includes asking a judge for permission to question jurors about issues of the case, including their "connection to drug and alcohol abuse, their connection to domestic violence, their willingness to watch videos with physical assault and videos that are sexually explicit, and their views towards people with multiple sexual partners," People reported.
Jury selection is expected to begin on Monday, May 5, according to the outlet.
According to federal officials, beginning as far back as 2008, Combs ran a criminal enterprise that involved sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
As part of this business, Combs would allegedly force women to engage in frequent days-long sexual activity with male commercial sex workers that he referred to as "Freak Offs." To make sure his victims participated in these "Freak Offs," Combs would use violence and intimidation to leverage his power over them. This leverage was obtained by distributing narcotics to victims, exploiting his financial support to them, and threatening to cut off this support. He would also control their careers, federal officials said.
In addition to federal charges, Combs also faces a long list of lawsuits from past alleged victims, including 120 people with various allegations against him occurring over two decades, all represented by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee.
Since his arrest in September, Combs has been jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, according to reports.
Click here to read the full report by People.
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