Sean “Diddy” Combs has been placed on death watch as he awaits trial on three counts of crimes related to more than a decade of alleged abuse. The music mogul is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where a judge denied his bail appeal on Wednesday. The 54-year-old faces three felony charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution, with allegations dating back to 2008. He has pleaded not guilty.
Here’s more on Diddy’s current status and the detention center where he’s being held while awaiting trial.
Why Diddy at Suicide Watch at MDC Brooklyn?
Combs has been in federal custody in New York City since Monday night, with guards at the Metropolitan Detention Center closely monitoring him, multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE. One source described the suicide watch as “a procedure for a high-profile client.” The facility has previously held public figures such as R. Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwelland Sam Bankman-Fried.
Representing singers, Marc Agnifilo and Teny R. Geragos wrote in a bail proposal rejected by two Manhattan judges earlier this week that the Brooklyn facility was “unsuitable for pre-trial detention,” describing the conditions as “appalling.”
Cameron Lindsayretired Brooklyn MDC warden and expert witness in corrections, notes, “Her celebrity status and accusations of violence against women make her an excellent target for attacks.”
“In the prison and jail subculture, delivering a hit on someone like him would be considered a badge of honor,” Lindsay added.
What is MDC?
MDC Brooklyn is a federal detention facility located in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, that houses both male and female inmates. According to CNN, Combs is being held alone in the Special Housing Unit at Brooklyn’s MDC, which is separate from the general inmate population and designated for inmates in need of protection.
Lindsay described the facility as “tight” and “cold,” explaining that Diddy would have no access to the internet, and that any outdoor recreation time would be spent in an enclosed area.
In a telephone interview, attorney R. Kelly, Nicole Blank Beckerdescribed Kelly’s time in the Brooklyn facility as “mentally debilitating” and “one of the worst experiences I’ve ever heard of.”
“If Diddy will experience something like what R. Kelly went through, it will not be good,” Blank Becker said, saying that he believes that the jail is “not at all” safe. “Every day, we worry about whether R. Kelly is still alive, frankly,” he added. “This is inhumane – another world. I mean, adults cry.”
Why Diddy in MDC?
Diddy is being held at MDC Brooklyn after being denied bail. When he appeared in court to set his $50 million bail, a judge ruled that he should remain in custody while the case continues.
Agnifilo said he plans to appeal the judge’s decision. Speaking to reporters, the lawyer insisted that his client came to New York “to turn around” to comply with the law. “Why doesn’t the government want them to surrender? Because then we can’t ask for detention,” Agnifilo said. “All we can do is show good faith. He got on a plane and came here. They arrested the men who came here to surrender.”
According to NBC News, Combs is accused of running a “criminal enterprise” through his business that continues “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.” In addition, he was accused of threatening and forcing “women and people around him to fulfill their sexual desires” by participating in “Freak Offs”, which documented forced sexual acts. Federal agents claimed to have seized more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and other lubricants from Combs’ home, which were used in the act.
If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, call National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Trained staff members will provide confidential, non-judgmental support, as well as local resources to help with healing, recovery and more.
