What’s next in the federal investigation into Sean “Diddy” Combs and his alleged co-conspirators?

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CNN
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Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was arrested this week on charges of organized crime conspiracy and sex trafficking, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and was ordered to remain in custody pending his federal trial in New York.

So what will happen to the 54-year-old music mogul? And what about the unnamed employees and business partners who are accused of conspiring with him?

Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York who filed the charges, was vague when asked whether further charges could be brought against Diddy or others.

“I can’t rule anything out. Anything is possible,” he said. “Our investigation is very intense and I think many of you who cover this office know that when we say things like this, developments are certainly predictable, but I can’t predict them here today.”

Several witnesses who worked for Combs have met with prosecutors, a source familiar with the federal investigation told CNN. At least one male sex worker is scheduled to testify before the grand jury in the next few days, according to the source, who added that the witnesses’ testimony goes beyond the details of this week’s indictment.

The public prosecutor’s office had previously stated that it had questioned over 50 victims and witnesses in the case.

CNN spoke to several legal experts to understand what lies ahead for Combs and others around him. Experts do not believe the music mogul will get a deal as the allegations against him could continue to mount.

“I’m very curious to see if this will give other survivors the courage to come forward, especially since he is being held without bail,” said Shea Rhodes, director of the Villanova Law Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

As for the people allegedly involved in Combs’ criminal organization, experts emphasized the difficult questions facing prosecutors about whether to press charges or get them to testify against him.

“The prosecution will have to deal with witnesses who have a difficult past or who admit to having been involved in criminal activity,” said trial attorney Misty Marris. “In an organized crime case, there are a lot of people with dirty hands.”

Combs’ future path has been paved by a series of legal decisions in recent days.

Combs, 54, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges of conspiracy to commit organized crime, sex trafficking and solicitation of prostitution. The indictment alleges he “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.” It also says he formed a criminal organization that engaged in “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”

If he is convicted of conspiracy to commit organized crime, he faces a life sentence. In the case of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, a minimum sentence of 15 years is provided.

He will remain in federal custody until his trial after his lawyers failed in their appeal Wednesday against a judge’s decision to deny him bail. In his ruling, Judge Andrew Carter said there were no conditions that reduced the risk of witness tampering or obstruction.

Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo told CNN he would appeal the verdict again.

While many federal cases end in a settlement, Agnifilo said that was unlikely between Combs and prosecutors here and that he wants to go to trial. “I believe he is innocent and he will go to trial and I believe he will win,” he told CNN on Tuesday.

Marris said a deal was unlikely, in part, because the sex trafficking charge carries a minimum sentence of 15 years.

“I think what the defense is really saying is, ‘OK, we’re going to go to trial because a plea deal probably wouldn’t be that beneficial,'” she said. “We’re talking about charges that carry at least 15 years in prison. The idea that a plea deal will result in a less severe sentence is just not conceivable in this case.”

In addition, Combs could potentially face further allegations of wrongdoing. Prosecutors have said the investigation is “active and ongoing,” and they have issued a public appeal for any potential victims to contact authorities.

Rhodes said it will be difficult for victims in this case to come forward, especially given allegations of violence against those who have tried to speak out in the past.

“It’s shame and fear, whether you’re believed or not. (Plus) if these allegations are made about how he just hired his entire organization to cover up what happened, who isn’t behind bars that can use additional intimidation tactics or instill additional fear in survivors who want to come forward?” she said.

Nevertheless, no further charges are expected against Combs, said Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN. The charge of conspiracy to commit organized crime is so broad that it encompasses a whole range of different types of offenses, including, according to the indictment, “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”

The federal indictment against Combs alleges that he was part of a broad conspiracy involving employees, assistants, supervisors and partners to commit criminal activities from 2008 to the present.

According to the indictment, the “Combs Enterprise” consisted of Combs, the ringleader, business entities including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment, and employees and associates including security personnel, domestic staff, personal assistants and high-level supervisors.

“Members and employees of Combs Enterprise have engaged in or attempted to engage in activities such as sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution, coercion and solicitation for prostitution, drug offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice,” the indictment states.

Despite these serious allegations, he is the only one against whom charges have been brought. Why?

Several legal experts said the fact that no charges have been brought against Combs’ associates suggests they may be cooperating with prosecutors.

“There are other people who could be said to have been his supporters who are not being watched by the government but who are trying to help the government prove its case,” said CNN legal expert Joey Jackson.

Prosecutors could grant immunity or a non-prosecution agreement to these alleged co-conspirators to induce them to testify against Combs, Marris said.

“The reason prosecutors would do that is because Diddy is the target in this case,” Marris said. “In order to have absolutely solid evidence against him, the information and the witness testimony are necessary.”

In addition, the boundaries between victim, witness and perpetrator can be surprisingly blurred. Rhodes referred to this as the “victim-perpetrator overlap” and noted that it is particularly pronounced in cases of sexual violence and sex trafficking.

In the case of Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking, for example, several of the women who testified as victims stated that they had also recruited others for the sexual encounters.

“Just because a prosecutor can charge someone as a co-conspirator doesn’t mean they should,” Rhodes said. “(Prosecutors) could have charged one of these victims as a co-conspirator for solicitation, but that’s not appropriate.”

Were any of Combs’ alleged co-conspirators also victims of other acts of violence? The indictment against Combs suggests this was the case. It states that one purpose of the criminal enterprise was to “obtain the absolute loyalty of the members of Combs Enterprise, including through acts of violence and threats.”

The best guide for Combs’ future path is provided by the investigation of another, current case of criminal activity.

Nadia Shihata, a former federal prosecutor who prosecuted the criminal charges against singer R. Kelly, told CNN that other people may or may not be charged in the Combs case.

“Certainly, more people could be charged. It’s also possible that more people have already been charged, have pleaded guilty and are cooperating in the case,” she said. “However, the fact that this is an organized crime charge based on an enterprise does not necessarily mean that more people will be charged.”

For example, in the R. Kelly case – which Shihata said had some significant similarities to Diddy’s – no one else was charged with organized crime. At the trial, several of his former associates testified against him, including a general assistant and a tour manager. Kelly was ultimately found guilty.

In general, it is up to the prosecutors how wide they cast their net in cases of organized crime, Honig said.

“You can decide to just indict everybody. Or you can decide to just go after the top players here,” he said. “(You can say) ‘I’m going to focus my resources and my attention on the bosses, the heavyweights, and not burden this indictment with more fringe players.'”