Jack Wagner, Editor

There has been a whirlwind of information and accusations since Sean Combs, also known as P. Diddy, was arrested. To help you keep up, here is an overview of the charges and events that have progressed over the last month, regarding Diddy.

Combs was arrested in Manhattan on Sept. 16. He had already been facing several sexual assault and misconduct cases from various sources, such as his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, as well as Dawn Richard, a former member of the group “Danity Kane” which Combs had assembled on the MTV show “Making the Band.”

Comb’s Miami and Los Angeles homes had also been raided by federal agents in March.

The indictment filed against Combs the day after his arrest by the United District Court Southern District of New York was unsealed, showing that he was charged on three counts: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Racketeering conspiracy is planning and carrying out an illegal scheme in a way that is often associated with organized crime. This count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring or movement of a person for the purposes of engaging in a commercial sex act (e.g. prostitution) through force, blackmail or coercion. This count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. 

The indictment also included several details about the raids carried out in March that many people found especially strange. For example, a combined total of over one thousand bottles of baby oil were found in Comb’s residences, reportedly to be used in multiple day-long “Freak Offs.” These “Freak Offs” often involved multiple commercial sex workers and Combs distributed controlled substances to attendees to keep them compliant, according to the indictment.

Combs also allegedly filmed some of these events in secret, keeping the tapes and using them as possible blackmail against his victims.

Combs filed for bail twice in the two days following his arrest. The second bail offer included $50 million dollars as well as GPS monitoring and strict limits on visitors. Both bail offers were denied.

U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter, who denied his second offer, ruled that it was “insufficient” to ensure the safety of the community and the integrity of his case. Carter also stated that there were no conditions that would be able to prevent Combs from intimidating or harming witnesses, which was an important part of the charges brought against him.

During a press conference on Oct. 1, Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee announced that he was representing 120 individuals to pursue civil cases ranging from sexual assault to battery against Combs. The incidents referred to in the cases go as far back as 1991 and vary in severity, including one case where the victim was 9-years-old in their alleged encounter with Combs.

Buzbee has also said other celebrities can be named as co-defendants in some of these cases.

Combs has pleaded not guilty, and he and his lawyers maintain his innocence against the charges. According to his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, Combs has no intention of taking a plea deal and intends to fight the charges in court. 

Currently, Combs is being held in the Brooklyn Detention Center. At this time, a trial date has not been set.