Inside ‘hell on earth’: the Brooklyn jail holding Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Diddy, 54, was arrested on Sept.16 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution, according to People. He pleaded not guilty and requested a $50 million bail, which was denied by the judge.

The Metropolitan Detention Center, established in the early 1990s by the Bureau of Prisons, currently holds 1,200 inmates, according to AP. A former warden described it as "austere" and "cold," remarking that "everything is planned; it's not a life."

Inmates have consistently reported issues such as rampant violence, poor living conditions, severe staff shortages, and widespread smuggling of drugs and other contraband, some of which is reportedly enabled by employees. They also claim to face frequent lockdowns, restricting their access to visits, phone calls, showers, and exercise.

In June, 37-year-old Uriel Whyte was fatally stabbed in the facility, and a month later, 36-year-old Edwin Cordero died following injuries sustained in a brawl. Over the past three years, at least four detainees have died by suicide.

Cordero’s lawyer, Andrew Dalack, told The New York Times that his client was a victim of "an overcrowded, understaffed, and neglected federal jail that is hell on earth."

Initially, Diddy was placed on suicide watch following his arrest due to his shock and mental state. However, by Sept. 29, he was no longer under suicide watch and had received visits from his family.

His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told People that Diddy is "strong, healthy, and focused on his defense," emphasizing that he is determined to fight the case and has full confidence in both his legal team and the truth.

In an interview with TMZ, Agnifilo also revealed that Diddy is eager to testify at his upcoming federal trial and is "very eager to tell his story."

American rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Photo from Facebook

The indictment against Diddy accuses him of coercing victims into participating in "freak offs," which prosecutors describe as elaborate, organized sexual performances. He allegedly used his celebrity status, along with drugs such as cocaine, ketamine, and oxycodone, and intimidation to involve women in these events, some of which were reportedly recorded without their consent.

Diddy, who founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, was instrumental in making hip hop a global phenomenon. By 2013, he was ranked as the world’s wealthiest rapper, before being surpassed by Jay-Z and Kanye West. Throughout his career, Diddy has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Music Awards.

Though he has never married, Diddy has seven children with four different women and has amassed significant wealth through his business ventures, with Forbes estimating his net worth at approximately $1 billion in 2022.