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Grand Jury Indicts Puffy On Attempted Bribery Charges
update: In the latest development in a case stemming from a December shooting incident at a New York nightclub, a grand jury in New York has indicted rapper/record company mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs and a bodyguard on charges of attempted bribery. If convicted of the charge, each could face a jail sentence of up to up to seven years.
The new indictment alleges that Combs and bodyguard Anthony Jones offered Wardel Fenderson--the driver of the car that carried Combs, Jones, and Jennifer Lopez as they fled Club NY following the shooting--$50,000 to say he owned a loaded gun police said they found in the car. Combs allegedly offered a ring that was being worn by his girlfriend Lopez as collateral.
Prosecutors initially made the charges at a bail hearing earlier this month.
In a statement issued by his publicist, Combs said he was "outraged" by the latest charge. ''I am not guilty," he said. "From the outset I have firmly believed that the Manhattan District Attorney's office has unfairly targeted me for baseless charges."
Combs has already pleaded not guilty to gun possession charges related to the incident. If convicted on the most serious of those counts, he could face up to 15 years in jail.
Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, a little-known rapper who was reportedly signed to Combs' Bad Boy Entertainment label, faces attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting three people at the nightclub.
Fenderson and Lopez haven't been charged with crimes in connection with the incident. Fenderson is reportedly cooperating with prosecutors as they attempt to build cases against Combs, Jones, and Barrow.
The indictments were handed down Wednesday (2/24) as Combs and Lopez, both nominated for Grammys, were in Los Angeles to attend the awards ceremony.
