On June 17, 2025, jurors in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs were presented a stunning hotel bill that showed $46,786 in damage to a luxury room in New York City. The prosecution says that Combs' firm, Bad Boy Entertainment, paid for the charge using an American Express card.
The prosecution wants to use this evidence to back up their assertion that Combs used his company equipment to pay for extravagant "freak-off" parties and other charges. It is one of several things that also include bills, credit card bills, and travel data.
The trial of 55-year-old Sean "Diddy" Combs is taking place in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He is charged with conspiracy to racketeer, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Jury discovers over $46k “penthouse damage” bill while reviewing hotel bills paid with Diddy’s card
The prosecution claims that for twenty years, Combs used his business connections to arrange drug-fueled sexual encounters, which they called "freak-offs," at five-star hotels. Diddy Combs has entered a not guilty plea, arguing that he was never coerced into any sexual relations and that the payments were for business purposes alone.
As part of the evidence, the jury viewed a complete invoice from October 2012. It said that $46,786 was charged for damage to a penthouse room at the InterContinental Hotel, which Diddy had booked under his customary identity, "Frank Black." Special Agent DaLeassa Penland of the U.S. Attorney's Office presented evidence that Combs used the suite to host wild parties.
The claims are based on the big repairs and replacements that were performed after he departed. The large amount of money owed highlights the wastefulness of these operations, and the prosecution claims they were intentionally done to harm people.
The total payment was made via an American Express card holding $944,059 in monthly charges. This remark was also aired throughout the whole trial. Penland said that Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide had many Signature Bank accounts that paid for the card. This backs up what the prosecution says: that Diddy Combs' company helped him with both his criminal and personal activities.
The jury looked at a number of other claims, along with the damage to the penthouse. These included a $740.35 purchase of Diptyque candles that were said to have been used to set the mood for a party and round-trip tickets booked under a fake name for an escort. We included pictures of hotel rooms, bills for baby oil and lubricant, and travel plans to provide a full picture of the logistics network that supports these events.
The prosecution sees these costs as evidence of a criminal enterprise aimed at encouraging non-consensual sex, while the defense says that Diddy's costs were just normal travel and hospitality expenses for a famous performer.
The prosecution's strategy is to show that Sean "Diddy" Combs' lavish spending is a key part of a criminal organization. This is clear when the jury looks at the $46,786 bill for damage to the penthouse, which was paid for using corporate money. As the trial reaches its 6th week, stay in to see whether the jury believes this version of events or the defense's narrative that the person used the product on purpose.