A prosecutor on Thursday described Sean Combs, the renowned music producer and rapper, as the head of a long-running criminal enterprise that used power, violence, and intimidation to force women into unwanted sexual acts. During closing arguments in his federal trial, the prosecution alleged that Combs coerced two of his former girlfriends into participating in orchestrated sexual marathons with male prostitutes, acts that were reportedly facilitated by a tight-knit circle of his employees.
The case is being prosecuted under a federal racketeering law, originally designed to target organized crime syndicates such as the Mafia. The statute has recently been used in high-profile cases involving other celebrities and political figures. Combs faces multiple felony charges, including two counts of sex trafficking, one count of racketeering conspiracy, and two counts related to the transportation of individuals for prostitution. For a conviction, jurors must unanimously find that he committed the offenses beyond a reasonable doubt.
Central to the government’s case are allegations of “freak-offs” highly choreographed sex parties involving drugs like Ecstasy and ketamine. The prosecution claims that Combs watched and recorded these encounters while masturbating, reinforcing the idea of a calculated and exploitative pattern of behavior. These parties reportedly involved male sex workers and were held in hotel rooms and other private locations, with Combs allegedly orchestrating the events.
A significant figure in the alleged conspiracy is Kristina Khorram, who joined Combs’ company in 2013 and rose to become his chief of staff in 2020. Prosecutors argue that she played a pivotal role in enabling the sex trafficking and other criminal acts tied to Combs’ inner circle.
The prosecution’s narrative paints a picture of a man who believed his celebrity and wealth placed him above the law, allowing him to manipulate and exploit others for his gratification over a period spanning more than a decade. The case suggests a pattern of criminal behavior involving not just sexual exploitation, but also drug distribution, bribery, arson, and even kidnapping.
In response, Combs’ legal team has strongly denied the existence of any criminal enterprise. While acknowledging issues related to drug use and past incidents of domestic violence, they maintain that all sexual activity was consensual and argue that the accusations of sex trafficking and racketeering are unfounded and exaggerated.
