Hip-hop mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, also known as "Puff Daddy" among other rapper aliases, was arrested by federal authorities earlier this week in New York City and taken into custody on serious felony charges involving racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation of prostitutes across state lines.

Combs is currently being held in Brooklyn's notorious Metropolitan Detention Center and has reportedly been placed on "suicide watch," according to the Daily Mail.

While that designation is said to be "standard for high-profile individuals" detained at the MDC, it has prompted some speculative questions about his current state of mind and possible threats to his life and safety.

Famous rap mogul indicted on sex trafficking charge

On Tuesday, the Justice Department's Southern District of New York announced that Combs was arrested and charged with three felony counts that included racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, with the first two charges carrying a possible maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Combs is alleged to have, as far back as 2008, used his massive business empire to conceal a "criminal enterprise" in which he and his associates "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others, and led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, among other crimes."

Part of the allegations include claims of so-called "freak offs" in which Combs would coerce or force women and men to engage in sexual acts with male and female prostitutes, some of whom had been transported across state lines, with Combs typically watching and recording the events.

"To ensure participation in Freak Offs, COMBS used violence and intimidation, and leveraged his power over victims -- power he obtained through obtaining and distributing narcotics to them, exploiting his financial support to them and threatening to cut off the same, and controlling their careers," the SDNY release alleged. "COMBS also threatened his victims, including by threatening to expose the embarrassing and sensitive recordings he made of Freak Offs if the women did not comply with his demands."

The federal prosecutors further alleged that many of Combs' associates and employees, including "high-ranking supervisors, security staff, personal assistants, and household staff," helped arrange and facilitate the criminal misdeeds of their boss, including efforts to conceal the illicit activities from law enforcement investigations.

An "alleged pattern of manipulation, exploitation, and outright abuse"

"As alleged in the Indictment, for years, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled to sexually abuse and exploit women, as well as to commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. "Today, he is charged with racketeering and sex trafficking offenses. If you have been a victim of Combs’ alleged abuse -- or if you know anything about his alleged crimes -- we urge you to come forward. This investigation is far from over."

Williams was joined in that statement by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge William Walker, who said, "Today, we shatter any false notion of impunity as we uncover the defendant's alleged pattern of manipulation, exploitation, and outright abuse."

"Make no mistake: we are here today only because of the unwavering strength of victims and witnesses who have already endured unspeakable hardships," the federal law enforcement agent added. "I commend them for their courage and urge anyone who believes they are a victim of sex trafficking to contact HSI by email at Sextrafficking_outreach@hsi.dhs.gov, or via our mobile tip-line: 1-877-4-HSITIP."

"Suicide watch" designation could be for his protection from other inmates

As for the reports that Combs had been placed on suicide watch at the Brooklyn MDC where he is being held without bail, People magazine reported that it had confirmed as much through unnamed sources but quoted as sources as suggesting the move was made to protect him not from himself but from other inmates who might seek to harm him.

Retired MDC-Brooklyn warden Cameron Lindsay told the outlet, "His huge celebrity status and the allegations of violence against women make him a very attractive target for assault," and noted, "And in the subculture -- in the world of jails and prisons -- to deliver a hit on somebody like him would be considered a badge of honor."

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reported that one of Combs' attorneys, Marc Agnifilo, said in a statement, "Mr Combs is a fighter -- he will fight this until the end. He is innocent," and added, "He has been looking forward to clearing his name and he is going to clear his name. We believe in him wholeheartedly. He didn't do these things."