Inside the Brooklyn Federal Jail Where Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Locked Up: Violence, Squalor, and Death

As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time within the confines of various correctional facilities, I can attest to the fact that MDC Brooklyn seems to have a unique allure for high-profile individuals, much like a magnet draws metal shavings. From celebrities such as Sean Combs and Fetty Wap, to figures like Keith Raniere and Martin Shkreli, it appears the jail has become something of a who’s who in the world of notoriety.

In an attempt to prevent Sean “Diddy” Combs from going to prison following his arrest on charges of sex trafficking, his legal team emphasized the appalling circumstances at the federal detention center in Brooklyn where he was expected to be held: deplorable conditions, widespread violence, and numerous fatalities.

54-year-old Combs was confined to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday, a facility often referred to as “a living hell” and an “unending calamity.” This follows his denial of guilt in a case that alleges he subjected women to physical and sexual abuse for over a decade.

This unique federal prison located in New York City has faced numerous issues ever since it started operating in the 1990s. Lately, its conditions have been so grim that certain judges have chosen not to imprison individuals there. Over the years, it has housed several well-known prisoners such as R. Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Sam Bankman-Fried, a notorious cryptocurrency scammer.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons acknowledges and is committed to resolving issues related to staffing and other challenges at MDC Brooklyn. A dedicated team within the agency is actively working towards solutions, such as hiring permanent correctional and medical personnel, addressing over 700 outstanding maintenance requests, and addressing judges’ concerns.

On Wednesday, the judge rejected a plea made by Diddy’s legal team to allow him to stay at his $48 million waterfront home in Miami Beach, Florida, while waiting for his trial instead of being held in custody.

Here are some important things to know about the jail:

What is the Metropolitan Detention Center?

The Bureau of Prisons opened the facility, known as MDC Brooklyn, as a jail in the early 1990s.

The primary function is to hold individuals who have been arrested and are waiting for their trials in the federal courts of Manhattan or Brooklyn. Other prisoners are housed there to serve out brief sentences after being convicted.

In the bustling industrial district by Brooklyn’s waterfront, I find myself amidst a facility housing roughly 1,200 individuals – a number that was over 1,600 just a few months ago in January. This place boasts outdoor recreation areas, a comprehensive medical unit equipped with examination rooms and a dental clinic. It even has a distinct section dedicated to educational programs and its very own library.

In 2021, the Bureau of Prisons shut down its deteriorating Metropolitan Correctional Center located in Manhattan. As a result, MDC Brooklyn is now the sole correctional center operated by them within New York City, which is America’s most populous city.

What are some problems with MDC Brooklyn?

Inmates frequently express concerns about excessive violence, poor living conditions, chronic staff shortages, and rampant smuggling of drugs and other prohibited items, some of which is allegedly aided by workers. Simultaneously, they claim to have experienced repeated lockdowns and restrictions that prevent them from leaving their cells for visits, phone calls, showers, or exercise.

In June, Uriel Whyte, aged 37, tragically lost his life due to being stabbed inside the prison. Exactly a month later, Edwin Cordero, also 36, passed away following an altercation. Over the past three years, at least four inmates at this facility have taken their own lives.

Lawyer Andrew Dalack stated to The New York Times that their client was merely a victim of a severely overcrowded, understaffed, and poorly managed federal prison, which he described as a living nightmare.

Over the past five years, at least six employees from MDC Brooklyn have faced criminal charges. Among these individuals, some are alleged to have taken bribes or distributed items like drugs, cigarettes, and mobile phones, as revealed by a study conducted by the Associated Press on arrests related to the agency.

MDC Brooklyn has faced criticism over its handling of severe facility breakdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, a week-long power outage in 2019 caused distress among cold detainees and raised eyebrows from federal oversight bodies. Moreover, the jail reported the first case of a federal prisoner testing positive for COVID-19 in March 2020.

By the end of November, as indicated by court documents, MDC Brooklyn had approximately 55% of its usual workforce on board. This situation strained employees and exacerbated their existing security concerns.

What is being done about these problems?

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I can’t help but draw a parallel with my passion when reflecting on the recent concerns about the Bureau of Prisons. The conditions at MDC Brooklyn have been criticized as downright dangerous and barbaric by judges and advocates alike. These concerned voices are demanding change, urging the agency to step up and improve the situation. In fact, some judges have even opted to sentence defendants differently or avoid sending them to MDC Brooklyn entirely due to these deplorable conditions.

In early January, Judge Furman from the U.S. District Court made an unusual decision by granting Gustavo Chavez, aged 70, the freedom to stay out on bail following his drug crime conviction, instead of sending him to a Brooklyn detention center as he waits for sentencing.

In his writing, Furman stated that prosecutors no longer argue or challenge the idea that the current situation is unsuitable; instead, they simply accept it as such.

In August, Judge Gary Brown stated that he intended to overturn a 9-month prison sentence for tax fraud imposed on a 75-year-old defendant, providing the Bureau of Prisons transferred the individual to MDC Brooklyn and instead opted for home confinement.

In response, the Prison Bureau announced that they are temporarily halting the transfer of convicts sentenced for crimes to the prison, to serve their terms. On Tuesday, the bureau stated that 43 individuals are currently serving their sentences within a low-security wing of the facility.

What other notable people have been detained at MDC Brooklyn?

Combs joins a growing roster of celebrities now detained at MDC Brooklyn, which also includes Maxwell, Kelly, Bankman-Fried, and rap artist Fetty Wap.

Notable individuals who have been held in high profile cases are Martin Shkreli (also known as the Pharma Bro), Keith Raniere (a leader of the NXIVM cult accused of sex crimes), Genaro Garcia Luna (a former Mexican government official) and Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado, a previous president of Honduras.

What happened to New York City’s other federal jail?

In 2021, the Metropolitan Detention Center in Manhattan was shut down following a series of issues that surfaced after the death by suicide of Jeffrey Epstein there in 2019.

Near the courtroom where Combs was charged, the prison faced persistent issues such as inadequate security measures, critical staff shortages, and unsanitary, hazardous environments. This included falling debris, frigid weather, and malfunctioning cell blocks.

I was moved from this facility to either MDC Brooklyn or a medium-security correctional institution in Otisville, New York.

What have Combs’ lawyers and prosecutors said?

Combs’ legal team contended in their filing for his release that the Metropolitan Detention Center is unsuitable for pre-trial detention. They pointed out recent inmate fatalities and echoed the worries expressed by judges, stating that it’s not a suitable environment for anyone to be held.

Regarding the case of a well-known inmate like Combs, especially considering the events surrounding Epstein’s death in 2019, Manhattan-based U.S. Attorney Damian Williams expressed concern about the safety of any individual held in custody before their trial.

He stated that he doesn’t see any link between Jeffrey Epstein’s death in custody and potential outcomes for any other defendants awaiting trial, emphasizing that each situation should be considered separately.

According to Marc Agnifilo, lawyer for rapper Combs, he is currently detained in MDC Brooklyn’s high-security segment, which provides additional protection but may complicate trial preparations. The request was made to transfer him to a New Jersey jail, yet the judge indicated that the decision ultimately lies with the Bureau of Prisons.

Is it just MDC Brooklyn, or do all federal prisons have issues?

An Associated Press examination has unearthed significant, hitherto undisclosed issues within the Bureau of Prisons, a large organization employing over 30,000 people, managing approximately 158,000 inmates across 122 facilities, and operating on an annual budget of roughly $8 billion.

AP reporting has revealed dozens of escapes, chronic violence, deaths and severe staffing shortages that have hampered responses to emergencies, including inmate assaults and suicides.

In April, it was announced that the Bureau of Prisons would be shutting down their women’s prison in Dublin, California, which had gained notoriety as the “rape club.” This decision came following a thorough investigation by the Associated Press, which uncovered instances of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse within the facility. The bureau decided to abandon efforts to reform the problematic institution after this revelation.

Last month, President Joe Biden enacted legislation aimed at enhancing supervision over the Bureau of Prisons, following investigative reports by the Associated Press that exposed several issues within the agency.

2024-09-19 18:07