Hip-hop star Sean “Diddy” Combs was charged with sex trafficking by force, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy, according to a federal indictment that was unsealed Tuesday.

“The defendant abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct,” the indictment said.

It said Mr. Combs “relied on employees, resources and influence of the multifaceted business empire that he led and controlled — creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”

The indictment described “freak offs” that involved him forcing victims into sex, sometimes using drugs and lasting for days.

“Freak offs were elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during and often electronically recorded,” it said.

This comes after he was arrested Monday in a Manhattan hotel lobby upon the indictment by a federal grand jury.

It also comes six months after the federal sex trafficking investigation against Mr. Combs was announced with search warrants and raids on his mansions.

He was hit with multiple lawsuits over the past year, including by his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, alleging that the singer subjected them to sexual and physical abuse.

His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said outside the Manhattan federal courthouse Tuesday that Mr. Combs would plead not guilty.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.