Sean “Diddy” Combs is officially heading to court after refusing a plea deal in a case that could change the course of his life and career. The music mogul will stand trial starting May 5 on heavy federal charges including sex trafficking and racketeering—offenses that could lead to life in prison if he’s found guilty.

At the center of this case is a disturbing set of accusations. Prosecutors claim that Diddy ran what they describe as a criminal operation tied to his music label, Bad Boy Records. They allege that for more than 20 years, he used his influence, power, and fame to lure women with promises of music deals and career opportunities—only to trap them in abusive situations involving drugs, coercion, and violence.

Things started spiraling back in November 2023 when Cassie Ventura, a former partner of Diddy, accused him of rape and years of abuse. Though her lawsuit was quickly settled out of court, it sparked a wave of fresh lawsuits—more than 70 in total—coming from different people with similar claims of exploitation and mistreatment.

Federal agents have since raided Diddy’s homes and seized nearly 100 devices, including phones and hard drives. Reports say they’ve collected over 90 terabytes of digital evidence—videos, messages, and files that they believe support the accusations. Prosecutors say this material paints a clear picture of how Combs allegedly operated behind the scenes.

The trial is expected to last about two months. Jury selection begins May 5, and opening statements are scheduled for May 12.

Despite the pressure, Diddy is not backing down. He’s pleading not guilty to all the charges and maintains that any sexual encounters were completely consensual. His lawyers are also planning to bring in a psychiatrist to argue that past drug use may have affected his mental state during some of the alleged incidents.

Diddy has been locked up in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest last September. Judges have denied his bail requests more than once, raising concerns about possible witness intimidation and past violent behavior. But in a small win for his legal team, the court has agreed to let him appear in regular clothes during the trial instead of prison attire to avoid swaying the jury unfairly.