Op-Ed: Sean Diddy Combs Case Exposes Predators We Fight
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The indictment of Sean “Diddy” Combs on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering shows the alarming vulnerability of runaway girls. Combs, a prominent music mogul, allegedly exploited women in shocking ways, using his wealth and power to coerce them into elaborate “freak offs,” where drugs, violence, and intimidation were used to maintain control. Predators like Combs thrive on the vulnerability of young women, especially runaways, who often go unnoticed by society. As a former law enforcement officer and investigator, I’ve seen firsthand how these girls become targets for exploitation. Through Kingsman and USPA, we work relentlessly to prevent cases like this, but more attention is needed to protect runaway teens from predators before they fall into such terrifying situations.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Case Highlights the Predators We’ve Been Fighting to Stop
By: Michael Evans
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: The Predator We’ve Been Hunting for Decades
The recent federal indictment of Sean “Diddy” Combs on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution is not just another celebrity scandal—it’s a devastating reminder of the predators who have long thrived in the shadows, exploiting the vulnerable. For decades, Combs was celebrated as a powerful force in the music industry, a man who built an empire and molded pop culture. But beneath that polished image, the indictment reveals allegations of horrifying abuses of power, centered on coercing women into participating in what prosecutors describe as “freak offs.”
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These allegations are not just an indictment of one man, but of a broader, systemic issue that society continues to overlook: the exploitation of runaway girls. These young women, often fleeing dangerous or unstable home environments, are some of the most vulnerable in society. And predators like Sean Combs know exactly how to manipulate their desperation.
As someone who has spent decades in law enforcement and investigation, particularly with missing girls and runaway cases, I’ve seen firsthand how young women like this fall through the cracks. They run away from homes filled with neglect, abuse, or poverty, only to find themselves in the grasp of men who offer them safety, shelter, or even fame—while ultimately exploiting them for their own depraved purposes. The alleged actions of Sean Combs are a reflection of the same predators we’ve been working to stop for years.
Here’s What’s Inside
1. Introduction: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs—A Predator in the Spotlight
2. The Allegations Against Combs: Power and Control
3. Runaway Girls: The Perfect Prey for Predators Like Combs
4. The Power Dynamic: How Predators Thrive
5. We Must Do More to Protect Runaway Girls
6. A Systemic Problem That Demands a Systemic Solution
7. A Call to Action
The Allegations Against Combs: Power and Control
The details of Combs’ indictment are shocking. According to the charges, he used his wealth, influence, and resources to manipulate and control vulnerable women, luring them into his orbit with promises of romance or career advancement, only to coerce them into participating in multi-day sex events, which he called “freak offs.” Prosecutors allege that these events, involving multiple women and commercial sex workers, were fueled by drugs and marked by violence, all under the watchful and controlling eye of Combs.
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It’s alleged that Combs provided the victims with drugs like cocaine, oxycodone, and ketamine to ensure compliance, breaking down their resistance and making it easier to manipulate them. These sessions, sometimes lasting days, were allegedly recorded without the women’s consent, and those recordings were later used as leverage to ensure their silence and obedience.
Predators like Sean Combs exploit the most vulnerable—runaway girls. We must act now to protect these young women before they’re trapped in cycles of abuse and exploitation."
Combs allegedly created a system around his abuse, enlisting employees, assistants, and even security personnel to facilitate the trafficking of women, clean up after his so-called “freak offs,” and ensure that no one spoke out. It’s a pattern of systemic exploitation that mirrors the structure we’ve seen used by so many other predators.
Runaway Girls: The Perfect Prey for Predators Like Combs
What’s particularly chilling about the Combs case is how closely it aligns with the stories of runaway girls we’ve been investigating for years. Runaways—girls who flee abusive or unstable homes—are often seen as troubled teens, as if their decisions to leave are born out of defiance. But the reality is far darker. These young women are typically running from danger only to find themselves in greater peril.
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They have no resources, no safety net, and no one looking out for them. And predators like Sean Combs know this. They see these girls as easy prey, luring them with promises of love, money, or protection, only to trap them in cycles of abuse and exploitation. When society doesn’t prioritize the safety of runaway girls, it leaves them exposed to predators who are more than willing to exploit their vulnerability.
At Kingsman, USPA’s nonprofit unit, we take these cases seriously. We understand that when a girl runs away, she doesn’t disappear—she becomes invisible to the system that should protect her. And in that invisibility, she becomes a target. This is why we dedicate ourselves to finding these girls before the predators do. (Fact Check) We know that for every day a girl is missing, the risk of her falling into the hands of men like Sean Combs increases exponentially.
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The Power Dynamic: How Predators Thrive
What’s perhaps most alarming about the allegations against Combs is the way he used his power to maintain control. The indictment details how he allegedly threatened to cut women off from financial support or from career opportunities if they didn’t comply with his demands. In this way, Combs weaponized the very resources that made him a cultural icon—money, influence, and fame—to trap women in cycles of exploitation.
For runaway girls, who often have no money, no family, and no prospects, these promises can seem like salvation. But the reality is far more sinister. When a man with the resources and power of Sean Combs decides to exploit you, there is little chance of escape. His wealth insulated him from scrutiny, his fame kept people from questioning his actions, and his influence silenced those who might have intervened.
This is a dynamic we see again and again in cases involving runaway girls and trafficking. The predators who exploit them are often powerful, manipulative, and well-practiced in using their influence to coerce, silence, and abuse. This is why we fight so hard to track these girls down before it’s too late.
We Must Do More to Protect Runaway Girls
The indictment of Sean Combs is a call to action. It is not enough to wait for the justice system to catch up with these predators after years of abuse. We must be proactive in protecting runaway girls before they become victims. These girls are not just statistics—they are individuals who deserve the same protection and attention as anyone else.
At Kingsman, we use every tool at our disposal to prevent cases like this from happening. We don’t wait for a girl to be trafficked or abused—we go after her the moment she disappears. We know that runaway girls are the most vulnerable, and we refuse to allow predators like Combs to continue exploiting them. (Fact Check)
But we cannot do it alone. Society must wake up to the reality that runaway girls are at the highest risk for exploitation. We need more resources dedicated to finding these girls before they fall prey to men like Sean Combs. We need law enforcement, social services, and the general public to take these cases seriously and act with the urgency they deserve.
Runaway girls aren’t just statistics; they are prey for powerful predators. Society must wake up to their danger and intervene before it’s too late."
A Systemic Problem That Demands a Systemic Solution
The Combs case is not an isolated incident. It is a symptom of a larger problem: powerful men exploiting vulnerable young women with little fear of consequence. We cannot allow this to continue. The predators who target runaway girls are not just in the entertainment industry—they are everywhere, in every community, waiting for their opportunity to strike.
As we continue our work at Kingsman, we remain committed to protecting these girls. But the truth is, we need systemic change. We need to stop treating runaway girls as though they don’t matter. They are at risk, they are vulnerable, and they need our protection. Only by recognizing the dangers they face can we begin to create a system that prevents them from becoming victims in the first place.
The indictment of Sean Combs is a reminder of how much work remains to be done. But it’s also a call to arms. We can’t stop predators like him from existing, but we can stop them from having access to their victims. And that starts with protecting our runaway girls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sex trafficking involves forcing, coercing, or deceiving individuals into sexual exploitation. Combs is accused of using his influence to manipulate women into participating in orchestrated sex acts, using threats, drugs, and financial control to keep them compliant.
“Freak offs” are described as elaborate, multi-day sex performances that Combs allegedly organized, involving multiple women and sex workers. Prosecutors claim these events were fueled by drugs and coercion, with women being forced to participate against their will.
According to the indictment, Combs allegedly provided drugs like cocaine, oxycodone, and ketamine to his victims to control and manipulate them. These substances were used to break down resistance and ensure the victims’ compliance during the “freak offs.”
Combs allegedly used his wealth and status to create a system of control. He manipulated women by offering career opportunities or financial support, only to coerce them into sexual exploitation. His fame shielded him from scrutiny while his employees helped facilitate the crimes.
Racketeering refers to organized criminal activity. Combs is accused of running a criminal enterprise where he systematically exploited women with the help of employees, assistants, and security personnel. This organized effort to abuse power and evade accountability is what makes the racketeering charge central to the case.
About the Author
Michael Evans, founder of USPA Nationwide Security, has spent decades protecting vulnerable individuals, including victims of human trafficking and exploitation. Starting USPA in 2005, Evans built a global security firm known for its relentless dedication to safety and justice. Through his hands-on leadership, Evans led investigations into missing persons and runaway cases, often targeting predators like Sean “Diddy” Combs. His philanthropic initiative, Kingsman, focuses on safeguarding women and children from abuse and trafficking, aligning perfectly with the mission to protect those preyed upon by figures of power. Even after stepping down in 2021, Evans remains a strategic advisor, continuing his life’s work of ensuring that vulnerable people are not left defenseless against predators. His legacy is a testament to how success can be harnessed to create meaningful change in society, particularly in the fight against exploitation.
Michael Evans
Strategic Advisor
Email: mevans@uspasecurity.com
Phone: (800) 214-1448
United States v. Combs, No. 24-CR-542 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 17, 2024), available at https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25147296-combs-indictment-24-cr-542.
