44°
Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County's Mount Vernon, will stand trial in May 2025 following his arrest on Tuesday morning, Sept. 17 on a three-count indictment, The New York Times reported.
The trial's starting date, Monday, May 5, was set by Judge Arun Subramanian of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, the newspaper added. Combs faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for purposes of prostitution.
Until the trial, Combs will stay in jail pending an appeal filed by the rapper's lawyers. He has been held in a federal detention center in Brooklyn for the past three weeks and has already been denied bail twice, the Times reported.
During his hearing on Thursday, Oct. 10, Combs was seen waving at his mother and six of his children in the courtroom, according to the outlet. Combs' mother, Janice Small Combs, released a statement earlier in October defending her son against the allegations:
"It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies," Small Combs said, adding that he has "made mistakes in the past, as we all have," according to the BBC.
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.
Combs also faces several lawsuits by victims alleging sexual assault and other abuse, including 120 people with various accusations represented by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee, according to reports.
Another lawsuit came from Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, which was settled within a day. In May 2024, a video leaked depicting Combs allegedly attacking Ventura in 2016.
Combs' lawyers have since filed a motion accusing government agents of leaking this footage to CNN, adding that they may ask for the video to be barred as evidence at the trial, the Times reported, adding that prosecutors have called this claim "baseless."
According to People, the roughest part of Combs' adjustment to prison life has been getting used to the food.
At the Metropolitan Detention Center where he is being held, breakfast is served at 6 a.m. and consists of cereal, fruit, and a breakfast cake. Meanwhile, dinner includes meals such as chicken fajitas, pasta, and roast beef, the outlet said.
Click here to read the full report by The New York Times.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Montgomery-Walden and receive free news updates.
