INTRODUCTION
In Experts.com‘s previous blog post concerning American Hip-Hop artist, Sean “Diddy Combs, insight from Mr. Joseph E. Gunja, a Jails, Prisons, and Corrections expert, detailed jail protocols for the rich and famous. He awaits his May 2025 criminal trial in jail. According to the Manhattan Federal Court, Diddy faces sex trafficking, prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges (US DOJ).
Consequently, Diddy’s fame and tight-lipped potential witnesses separate this high-profile case from others. He and other Hollywood elites are, without a doubt, major influences in pop culture (BBC). Now, the public wonders which well-known figures perpetuated the decades-long abuse or faced abuse themselves. With contributions from Dr. James F. Pastor, a security and law enforcement expert witness, this blog post explains Diddy’s charges and how law enforcement and federal agents investigate multi-state crimes.
DIDDY CRIMINAL CHARGES EXPLAINED
Diddy’s unsavory reputation certainly adds weight to his case, but his notoriety alone did not land him in criminal court. Below are definitions of Diddy’s criminal charges and their average sentences (United States v. Sean Diddy Combs):
- Racketeering Conspiracy: A type of organized crime that can be affiliated with individuals, businesses, and corporations, in which a string of illegal crimes are committed. The purpose is to cement a false sense of legitimacy.*
- Through the Combs Enterprise, Diddy used people within his organization to commit crimes on his behalf.
- Sentence: Life in Prison (maximum).
- Sex Trafficking: Transporting people from one area or country to another solely for sexual exploitation by force, fraud, or coercion. Prostitution can be part of sex trafficking.
- Diddy has property in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City. Crossing state borders with women under the influence and forcing them to join his “freak offs” explains the sex trafficking charge.
- Sentence: Life in Prison (maximum); mandatory 15-year prison sentence.
- Prostitution: While legal in some states, it becomes a criminal charge when someone exchanges money for nonconsensual sexual activity.
- Diddy leveraged his power to coerce women into sexual activity with male commercial sex workers.
- Sentence: 10-year prison sentence (maximum).
*Distinction*: Racketeering, Conspiracy, and Racketeering Conspiracy are three separate charges. Firstly, Racketeering involves committing crimes within an enterprise. Secondly, Conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime. Finally, Racketeering Conspiracy, Diddy’s charge, is when two or more people agree to participate in a criminal scheme to gain commercial profit. Although there isn’t a requirement, in most cases, the government will try to prove that the enterprise’s establishment was for illegal purposes (RICO).
Expert Q & A: Diddy Scandal Application
Insight from Dr. James A. Pastor – Security and Law Enforcement Expert
Question #1
Q1: How do police and/or federal agencies begin investigating large-scale, multi-state cases?
A: Typically, the initial decision goes to the state vs. federal jurisdiction. In the “Diddy” case, since the charges were brought in federal court, state authorities usually would not be involved—unless they participated in earlier stages of the investigation (which I tend to doubt). In this case, since evidence and witnesses may be derived from multiple areas around the country (or even internationally), the coordination of these investigations likely included US Attorney and FBI offices in several cities. How these resources are marshaled and organized is most likely done through the centralized decision-making of the lead prosecutor in NY.
Question #2
Q2: How is evidence determined, collected, and consolidated to build a prosecutable case?
Evidence Collection
A: This is a big question that is heavily dependent on the nature of the case, the resources devoted to the matter, and the level of cooperation involved within federal law enforcement. Since this is a “heater case,”* my sense is it is a high priority in the Justice Department, as they would not have brought the case if they were not serious about it. As such, the prosecutors surely have a great deal of information and have collected mountains of data, videos, photos, and witness statements. By the time this case becomes public, rest assured that the government has already substantially developed its case against Diddy.
How they collected the evidence typically commences with witnesses or complainants coming forward with allegations. If these allegations appear to have merit, it’s a matter of following up with the witnesses or complainants. Usually, this entails people naming other witnesses, providing photos or videos of the events, and supplementing these with other documentary evidence such as emails, news accounts, voice mails, and many other forms of evidence. In a case this big, with so many people who witnessed things through many years where Diddy’s parties and other events had such a wide array of attendees, the potential sources of information may be so vast as to be too large to effectively manage.
*A “heater case” is an ongoing case that generates significant media attention.*
Evidence Management
A: While I never handled anything so large, my sense is that when the momentum grows, people tend to come “out of the woodwork.” Many people knew of illegal or illicit activities but would not want to get involved. If (and this may have already occurred) those who desire to “tell their story” are influential and powerful, others may then feel free to communicate what they know. This is the tipping point moment.* If people come out of the “woodwork,” what was once only an isolated allegation may turn into a groundswell.
Collecting and managing this level of information then becomes its own challenge. If this occurs, then prosecutors will likely select the best-known, most attractive, and most articulate witnesses with specific factual claims to make their case. All other lesser-knowns will not be part of the legal proceeding and may only weigh in with news and media accounts.
*For example, ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit against Diddy last November inspired women to share their experiences. (Washington Post).*
Questions #3 – #5
Q3: What is the protocol for finding and interviewing witnesses?
A: Not sure there is any one protocol. Getting initial witnesses/complainants to “name names” is typically the initial key factor. Following up on these names, asking these people to tell their version of the events is the most likely sequence of the investigation. Prosecutors may offer immunity deals to some in the early stages of the investigation. Getting these people to make videotaped statements coupled with providing other independent evidence, again, like emails, photos, videos, and the like would be part of this protocol.
So, the adage holds true: follow the facts. As the investigation develops, leads develop into viable evidence, which, as a result, goes to other sources of evidence. It can certainly build upon itself into the “tipping point” described above.
Q4: How does law enforcement find witnesses willing to provide valuable information to the police?
A: People naming other people. Images of people in videos and photos. Emails, voice mails, news accounts, and a host of other sources.
Q5: What are some of the most common obstacles to coordinating multi-state investigations?
A: Usually money—resources and cooperation. Lack of cooperation may be the result of disinterest or of competition, where one agency holds back information or performs parallel investigations in the quest to make the arrest or be the one that gets the credit.
Questions #6 & #7
Q6: Are there specific departments tasked with investigating Diddy’s separate charges? Or are all the law enforcement officers assigned to his case investigating all of them?
A: In this case, the FBI is likely the lead investigative unit. They have specialized units to manage the facts and circumstances derived from this case. Interviewing women who may have been sexually assaulted at a tender age is one such specialization. Being sensitive to the emotions and even the repressed memories requires skilled professionals who have experience in these investigations.
Q7: At what point during an investigation do federal agencies get involved?
A: It’s a federal case, and likely commenced as a federal case. My sense is that a local jurisdiction would not touch this as Diddy is too big, too rich, and too well-connected.
CONCLUSION
While the Diddy Scandal unravels and news unfolds, we will continue applying expert insight to the case. Thank you to Dr. James F. Pastor, Security and Law Enforcement expert, for taking the time to collaborate with Experts.com on the second blog of the Diddy Scandal series.
