Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
According to a federal indictment that was revealed on Tuesday, Sean “Diddy” Combs faces charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.
About six months after federal agents searched Combs’ lavish properties in Miami and Los Angeles as part of a sex trafficking investigation, Combs was taken into custody late on Monday in Manhattan.
Combs has been sued in the last year by individuals claiming he abused them sexually or physically. Many of those accusations have been denied by Combs.
Before a barrage of accusations surfaced over the past year, Combs, 54, was acknowledged as one of the most significant players in the hip-hop industry.
The R&B singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit against Combs in November, claiming that he had been beating and raping her for years. She said that Combs forced her and other people into unwelcome intercourse in drug-filled environments.
The lawsuit was resolved in a single day, but months later, CNN released video captured on hotel security that appeared to show Combs hitting and kicking Cassie. Following its release, Combs issued an apology.
However, in a series of cases, Combs and his lawyers disputed similar claims made by other parties.
A woman claimed Combs raped her at the age of 17 two decades ago. A music producer sued Combs, claiming he was forced to have sex with prostitutes. Combs allegedly subjected a woman to “terrifying sexual encounters” starting in 1994 while she was a college student.
What Does It Mean to Be Indicted?
Being indicted is the same as being formally “charged” with a crime. During this process, a prosecutor will meet in private with a grand jury to discuss an indictment. When the jury is called by the prosecutor, neither the defendants nor their defense attorneys will be present. This is the prosecutor’s chance to present investigation-related evidence before a 16–23-member jury chosen at random. This grand jury will then listen to the evidence presented and then decide if formal charges should be brought.
Something to note about an indictment is that the grand jury does not have to be unanimous in their decision to proceed with charges or not, unlike finding guilt in a criminal trial. The jury’s sole purpose is to determine whether the prosecutor has sufficient evidence to move forward with formal charges; it is not to determine whether any individuals are guilty.
What Happens After an Indictment is Issued?
Usually, the defendant is arraigned after a grand jury issue an indictment. Upon being arraigned, a defendant enters an initial plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest in court. This is the first stage in the trial process. In contrast to the trial itself, it serves the purposes of entering a plea, determining whether the defendant requires legal representation or not, and setting bail if required. After being arraigned, a defendant faces trial before a judge/jury.
Contact Us For Help with Your Criminal Charges
If you have been charged with a crime in the state of Florida, you require the knowledgeable support of Whittel & Melton’s Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers to help you navigate the court system and any associated legal proceedings. For a FREE consultation, call us at 866-608-5529 or contact us online today.