Brian Buckmeyer

In September of 2024, Diddy returned to the place where his life and career began, New York City. He was spotted around town, posing for photos with his children in Harlem. Diddy looked casual in Tim's in a black t-shirt. The T-shirt looked simple enough, but it appeared to be a designer vintage item that can retail for over $1,000.

In September of 2024, Diddy returned to the place where his life and career began, New York City. He was spotted around town, posing for photos with his children in Harlem. Diddy looked casual in Tim's in a black t-shirt. The T-shirt looked simple enough, but it appeared to be a designer vintage item that can retail for over $1,000.

While Diddy may have appeared relaxed, this wasn't a family getaway or even a business trip. Here's ABC chief investigative correspondent Aaron Katursky.

While Diddy may have appeared relaxed, this wasn't a family getaway or even a business trip. Here's ABC chief investigative correspondent Aaron Katursky.

His lawyer said he planned to turn himself in, but the feds didn't wait for that to happen. Instead, on September 16th of 2024, they made a surprise move in a hotel lobby in Midtown Manhattan. Here's Aaron Katursky on ABC News again.

His lawyer said he planned to turn himself in, but the feds didn't wait for that to happen. Instead, on September 16th of 2024, they made a surprise move in a hotel lobby in Midtown Manhattan. Here's Aaron Katursky on ABC News again.

The next day, federal prosecutors held a press conference.

The next day, federal prosecutors held a press conference.

Standing at a podium, flanked by two American flags, then-U.S. Attorney Damian Williams looked serious, formal. He wore tortoiseshell glasses, a dark suit, and a navy maroon tie with gold stripes.

Standing at a podium, flanked by two American flags, then-U.S. Attorney Damian Williams looked serious, formal. He wore tortoiseshell glasses, a dark suit, and a navy maroon tie with gold stripes.

Williams has the cred the SDNY is known for. He's an alum of Harvard, also Yale Law School. He was the first Black person to leave the SDNY. If Diddy went around pronouncing how he represented Black excellence, Damian Williams' presence and accomplishments were the embodiment of that excellence.

Williams has the cred the SDNY is known for. He's an alum of Harvard, also Yale Law School. He was the first Black person to leave the SDNY. If Diddy went around pronouncing how he represented Black excellence, Damian Williams' presence and accomplishments were the embodiment of that excellence.

There were three counts against Diddy laid out in order of severity. The first count is racketeering conspiracy, or RICO. That's the most serious count, because it carries a maximum sentence of up to life in prison. This count alleges that Diddy ran a criminal enterprise that exploited and abused women. The freak-offs were allegedly a manifestation of that abuse.

There were three counts against Diddy laid out in order of severity. The first count is racketeering conspiracy, or RICO. That's the most serious count, because it carries a maximum sentence of up to life in prison. This count alleges that Diddy ran a criminal enterprise that exploited and abused women. The freak-offs were allegedly a manifestation of that abuse.

The indictment says Diddy's criminal enterprise engaged in crimes like arson, bribery, forced labor, and obstruction of justice, just to name a few.

The indictment says Diddy's criminal enterprise engaged in crimes like arson, bribery, forced labor, and obstruction of justice, just to name a few.

The other charges? Two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. They also come with stiff prison sentences. Sex trafficking might catch some people off guard. We'll get more into this in a later episode. But for now, here's what the SDNY is alleging.

The other charges? Two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. They also come with stiff prison sentences. Sex trafficking might catch some people off guard. We'll get more into this in a later episode. But for now, here's what the SDNY is alleging.

Diddy used force, fraud, or coercion to compel his victims to participate in sexual acts against their will. It's a federal crime because Diddy's alleged victims were moved across state lines for those freak-offs.

Diddy used force, fraud, or coercion to compel his victims to participate in sexual acts against their will. It's a federal crime because Diddy's alleged victims were moved across state lines for those freak-offs.