Sean 'Diddy' Combs Will Plead Not Guilty, 'Fight with All His Energy' After Sex Crimes Indictment: Lawyer

Sean "Diddy" Combs plans to fight his indictment on federal sex crimes charges “with all his energy might,” his attorney told reporters outside of court on Tuesday morning.

Speaking outside of the federal courthouse in Manhattan, the music mogul’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said that “not a lot of defendants” cooperate so willingly with federal authorities.

“He came to New York to basically engage the court system and start the case and it will start today,” Agnifilo said of his client, who was indicted on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. 

“He’s going to plead not guilty obviously," Agnifilo said.

On Monday, Sept. 16, the office of the US Attorney of the Southern District of New York announced that Combs had been arrested by federal agents based on a sealed indictment filed by federal prosecutors.

He was taken into custody at his Manhattan hotel by Homeland Security Investigations agents, sources told PEOPLE. On Tuesday, the federal indictment was unsealed.

In March, federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Beverly Hills and Miami. 

"Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners," Homeland Security Investigations said in a statement. 

In November, his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, accused Combs of rape and other allegations.

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The following day, she dropped the lawsuit after they came to an amicable agreement.

On the federal charges his client faces, Agilfino said, "He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers and I expect a long battle with a good result for Mr. Combs."

“I’m going to fight like hell to get him released and he should be released with all that he’s done and come here voluntarily," Agilfino added.

In a statement to PEOPLE following the rapper's arrest on Monday, Agnifilo said Combs' defense was "disappointed" by what he called an "unjust prosecution.

“Sean 'Diddy' Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community," Agnifilo said. 

"He is an imperfect person but he is not a criminal."

Prosecutors allege in the indictment that back to 2009, Combs assaulted multiple women. One incident in 2016 at a Los Angeles hotel, in which Combs allegedly "kicked, dragged and threw a vase" at a woman, was caught on camera, according to the indictment. Prosecutors claim the rapper tried to bribe a staff member in exchange for silence.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.