Hip-hop billionaire and “bad boy” Sean “Diddy” Combs is being compared to the late sex trafficking financier Jeffrey Epstein, who used his power and connections to lure young women and girls to a private island, allegedly along with a network of wealthy friends.
Now Combs himself is facing federal charges of sex trafficking, organized crime and other crimes.
His arrest at a New York hotel came six months after Department of Homeland Security agents raided his mansions in Miami and Los Angeles, and nearly a year after a series of explosive lawsuits were filed against him alleging sex trafficking and domestic violence. Those allegations appear to be supported in part by the leak of surveillance video showing an assault on his ex, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, in a hotel hallway.
“When you think about it, this is like Epstein 2.0,” said David Gelman, a criminal defense attorney and former New Jersey prosecutor. “Here’s a man who is extremely wealthy and extremely powerful, just like Jeffrey Epstein. He’s being accused of inhumane and unprecedented charges against women and minors for sex trafficking and sexually deviant acts, and the similarities are uncanny.”
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Sean “Diddy” Combs and his defense attorney Marc Agnifilo appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky after prosecutors filed three criminal charges against him in federal court in Manhattan, New York. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)
But Gelman said it’s too early to say who else might be hauled into federal court. Although a number of civil lawsuits have made allegations against other executives, stars and Combs associates, and his indictment alleges that “Combs relied on employees, resources and influence” from his business empire, there isn’t enough information yet to speculate about specific individuals, he said.
As the proceedings progress, more information will come to light in court, he said.
“There are only so many rich and powerful individuals in this world, especially in the United States,” Gelman told Fox News Digital. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we read information about where Epstein and Diddy crossed paths. I know Epstein has been dead for a number of years, but his criminal involvement goes back many, many years.”
Both men had influence on Democratic policies and had been photographed with former presidents, he said.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs (Romain Maurice/Mega for Fox News Digital)
“I don’t think it’s far-fetched to suggest that the two may have known each other,” he added.
Although no one else has been charged, the case involves a conspiracy involving others, and prosecutors alleged in court documents that Combs exploited his billion-dollar empire to abuse and silence victims. He famously travels with an entourage and bodyguards and was revered in the entertainment industry for decades before falling from grace.
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This is Jeffrey Epstein’s mugshot from 2019, after federal authorities charged him with human trafficking. (Cyprus/Getty Images)
“US Attorney Damian Williams dodged questions about additional charges or defendants, saying the investigation is ongoing,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor who now has a private practice in Los Angeles. “Other members of the RICO conspiracy are criminally liable for sex trafficking even if they did not actually participate in the sex acts. So someone who bought the thousand bottles of baby oil or gave the victims IVs after they took the drugs could be charged as a co-conspirator.”
Prosecutors can pressure unnamed and unindicted co-conspirators to turn against Combs or others involved in the alleged crimes, he said. And if they don’t turn around, they can be indicted themselves.
R. Kelly and P. Diddy are pictured at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. (Theo Wargo/WireImage/File)
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“And of course, anyone who actually engaged in sexual activity with Diddy should be terrified,” Rahmani said. “There are multiple victims, many witnesses, and likely video evidence of the ‘outbursts.’ These individuals can and should be charged with sex trafficking or prostitution, depending on whether they threatened or used violence against the victims.”
Jeffrey Epstein is seen with his long-time colleague and Madame Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently in a federal prison.
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If someone else is charged, it wouldn’t be the first time that members of Combs’ entourage have been dragged into court in a case involving Combs. After an infamous shooting at a New York nightclub in 2001, Combs’ former protégé Moses “Shyne” Barrow went to prison for 10 years. Combs was acquitted in connection with the shooting.
Shyne and Diddy will perform at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on November 7, 2023. (Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Sean Diddy Combs)
“It only takes a few brave people to speak up and talk about what’s happening and eventually the whole house of cards collapses,” said Spencer Kuvin, a trial lawyer who represents nine of Epstein’s victims in legal battles with the disgraced financier, companies and other rich and powerful men in his circle.
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“Depending on what facts come out, it’s similar to the Epstein case because this is a very wealthy, well-connected individual who believes he’s above the law,” he told Fox News Digital. “While people give famously rich people the benefit of the doubt and often look the other way when they do bad things, the time of accountability always catches up with them.”
Federal investigators have likely already identified and questioned suspected co-conspirators in an attempt to get them to testify against the entertainment mogul, he said.
“Anyone who was involved in these illegal activities can be prosecuted, and it’s likely that the feds have already spoken to them about granting immunity to certain people to testify against Combs,” Kuvin said. “Rich, famous and powerful people continue to believe they are above the law. Hopefully the feds will continue to show them that’s not the case.”
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Yet even years after Epstein’s death, questions about his alleged “client list” remain unanswered. The release of thousands of pages of court documents this year included a number of celebrities, wealthy businessmen and others close to him, but contained few substantiated allegations against them. Many were mentioned only in passing.
