Sean 'Diddy' Combs plans to appeal judge's no-bail ruling in federal sex-trafficking case
Sean “Diddy” Combs plans to appeal a Manhattan judge's ruling that the disgraced hip hop mogul will be locked up without bail ahead of his trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Combs, 54, filed a notice of appeal in the Southern District of New York on Monday, according to court documents, the first step in an effort to save himself from the slammer.
It is not yet clear when an official appeal will be filed or when a hearing will be held.
Combs was arrested at a Manhattan hotel on Sept. 16, and is being held at Brooklyn's notorious Metropolitan Detention Center — which houses the likes of sex offenders R. Kelly and Ghislaine Maxwell and crypto-currency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried.
As a “preventive measure”, Coombs was placed on suicide watch – but his legal team insisted he was in good spirits and preparing his case.
“His resolve is strong, he's engaged, he's focused on his defense,” attorney Mark Agnifilo previously told TMZ.
Combs hired two attorneys to join Agnifilo in his defense: Anthony Rico, who successfully represented an NYPD officer accused of killing an unarmed man; and Alexandra Shapiro, who is working on Bankman-Fried's own application.
Prosecutors argued Combs was a “serial abuser and a serial obstructor” during his first bail hearing and cited a 2016 incident in which he tried to bribe hotel security to cover up his violent assault on then-girlfriend Casey Ventura.
Federal Magistrate Judge Robin Tarnofsky in Manhattan agreed with prosecutors and sent Combs to prison.
Combs is accused of masterminding disturbing organizations called “freak offs,” where women would be lured into his orbit, drugged and forced into marathon sex sessions with male prostitutes.
The drugs were used to “keep the victims submissive and compliant,” according to the federal indictment, while Combs allegedly filmed the sessions and masturbated them.
The operation used Combs' employees who helped arrange travel for participants, hotel rooms where “freak offs” were held, and stocked up on lube, drugs, and extra sheets.
The controversial hip hop star was also charged with conspiracy, forgery, and coercion and transportation for the purpose of prostitution, each of which he pleaded not guilty to.
He is scheduled to appear in court on October 9.