As the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs begins, the Mirror takes a look behind the bars of the notorious Metropolitan Detention Centre (MDC) in Brookyln, where the rapper has been awaiting his time in the courtroom
Today, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will appear before a Manhattan federal court, in what has been described as America’s celebrity trial of the century.
In the months since his arrest, the I’ll Be Missing You hitmaker has swapped the glamour of Beverley Hills for the “grim” conditions of the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), an infamous Brooklyn jail which has been described as “hell on earth”.
And it’s reportedly unlikely that Combs’ status as a music legend will do much to help him behind the walls of MDC, a place where “chaos reigns, along with uncontrolled violence.” It’s a far cry for Combs’ old life of red carpets and glittering awards ceremonies.
Once known primarily for his highly influential hip hop career, the 55-year-old now faces a series of grave charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The eight-week trial, hinges on allegations that Combs orchestrated and directed drug-fuelled sex parties, dubbed “freak-offs”, which involved both female victims and male sex workers.
It’s been alleged that victims were administered powerful controlled substances – often without their knowledge – in order to keep them “obedient and compliant” during these sessions, which sometimes lasted for days on end.
Combs has vehemently denied all allegations, and has rejected an 11th-hour plea deal offer from prosecutors. He believes jurors will clear him of the serious accusations he faces.
READ MORE: Diddy faces life behind bars as America’s celebrity trial of the century begins
In the aftermath of Combs’ arrest, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo referred to the federal case as a “witch hunt”, while stating that the decision to prosecute was “deeply disappointing”.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Mr Agnifilo said: “Mr Combs is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. We look forward to clearing his name.”
For many months now, Combs has been awaiting his fate behind the “grim” bars of MDC, where the likes of R Kelly and Ghislaine Maxwell have waited before him. Located in an industrial area on Brooklyn’s waterfront, the notorious federal jail is home to approximately 1,200 inmates as per October 2024 – down from more than 1,600 in January of that year.
Mostly used for post-arrest detention for those awaiting trial in the federal courts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, MDC also houses prisoners serving short sentences following their convictions. It’s likely the harsh environment will have come as a shock to Combs, with those in the know warning his famous name likely protect him or result in any “special treatment”.
Married at First Sight star Timothy Smith, who previously served time in a US federal prison, told the Daily Mail Australia: “His money and wealth won’t get him any benefits. In the federal system, it’s so limited, you don’t get extra privileges because you’re rich. His wealth won’t help him in here, nothing at all.”
He added: “They do raids, and if you try to stockpile, they take everything. People think there are TVs and radios, but where he’s at there’s nothing, not even a radio. You get a Bible and one book per week.”
Meanwhile, BBC News previously reported that, back in August 2024, US District Judge Gary J Brown chose not to send a defendant in a tax fraud case to MDC, given his fears over the “dangerous, barbaric conditions that have existed for some time”.
Describing the jail as a facility where “chaos reigns, along with uncontrolled violence”, Judge Brown commented that a number of fellow judges had also shared his reluctance to send defendants to MDC due to concerns over the dangerous conditions there.
Remarking upon one particularly chilling incident, Judge Brown told the story of one prisoner who was reportedly denied medical treatment after being stabbed multiple times, and was instead locked up in his cell for 25 days. Judge Brown continued: “Allegations of inadequate supervision, unbridled assaults, and lack of sufficient medical care are supported by an increasing body of evidence, with certain instances that are irrefutable.”
In June 2020, inmate Jamel Floyd died after he was pepper-sprayed by officers, while in July 2024, 36-year-old MDC inmate Edwin Cordero passed away due to injuries sustained in a fight. Describing MDC as a “scary place to be”, Edwin’s lawyer, Andrew Dalack, told the BBC: “It should not be the case that while your life is on the line and your liberty is on the line, that you have to be completely stripped of your humanity. MDC Brooklyn has a way of really breaking people down, and making them feel less than human.”
The Federal Bureau of Prisons, which manages MDC, told the broadcaster that it “takes seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintain the safety of correctional employees and the community”.
As reported by Time magazine last year, at least four MDC Brooklyn detainees had died by suicide in the last three years, while at least six MDC staff members have been charged with crimes in the previous five years alone, with charges including accepting bribes or providing contraband.
Described as “hell on earth” by lawyer Dalack in another New York Times interview, MDC first opened back in the early ’90s and has faced criticism on a number of occasions. Notable issues include overcrowding and staff shortages, with shocking court filings from November 2023 determining that the prison was operating at just 55 per cent of full staffing levels.
In one harrowing incident that unfolded in January 2019, federal watchdogs expressed concern after a week-long power failure led to unrest among “frantic” inmates. Speaking with The New York Times at the time, the president of the local chapter of the union, Anthony Sanon, recanted: “We didn’t have heat in the building, we didn’t have light. The weather was actually unbearable.”
In a lawsuit filed against the federal government and jail officials, as per Reuters, plaintiffs claimed inmates had been subjected to “inhumane conditions that posed unreasonable and substantial risks to their health and safety”, and that they hadn’t received hot food or suitable clothing for the icy temperatures.
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READ MORE: P Diddy rejects 11th-hour prosecutors’ plea deal and opts to go to trial over sex crimes
