Which charges does Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs face – and could he go to jail?

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is beginning, and with it comes the potential legal undoing of a one-time media and music titan.

Combs, whose label Bad Boy Records helped make him a king-maker in the world of hip-hop, was toppled from on high in September, when authorities arrested him on federal charges, alleging he was helping run a criminal sex trafficking operation.

Now behind bars as he awaits the court proceedings, Combs has simultaneously faced a torrent of civil suits painting the music mogul as a longtime abuser, following a quickly-settled lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura − who alleged Combs raped and assaulted her.

As Combs arrives for his day in court May 5, here’s a look at the charges he faces.

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What federal charges does Diddy face?

Combs is charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering.

Federal authorities claim Combs turned his “multi-faceted business empire” into a “criminal enterprise” in which he and his associates engaged in kidnapping, arson and physical violence, sex trafficking and forced labor, among other alleged crimes.

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A superseding indictment filed April 3 — the third revised indictment following an amended indictment in January and a superseding indictment in March — added two additional counts to the three from his original charging: one of sex trafficking and one of transportation to engage in prostitution.

What is racketeering?

Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity.

Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in “freak offs” — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors claim they have video of.

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What civil cases does Diddy face?

The federal charges against Combs echo some of the allegations in the more than 70 civil lawsuits filed against him.

The claims of sexual abuse, drugging and physical assault span three decades, and include the lawsuit filed by Cassie in November 2023 through to the most recent suit in April 2025.

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Could Diddy go to jail?

Yes.

If convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs could face life in prison, while the statutory minimum sentence for sex trafficking is 15 years and for transportation to engage in prostitution is a maximum of 10 years.

The disgraced music mogul is already in custody, and, despite repeated attempts at bail, has remained confined to the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. He has been in jail since his arrest on Sept. 16, 2024.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra,  Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY

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