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Sean “Diddy” Combs Reportedly Using Mackerel as Currency in Brooklyn Detention Center
Once a billionaire music magnate, Sean “Diddy” Combs is reportedly adapting to life at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn by utilizing $1 cans of mackerel as a form of exchange. The embattled impresario, 55, is currently confined as he awaits his sex trafficking trial, scheduled to commence next month. His fall from opulence to incarceration has captivated public attention.
Life Behind Bars: Currency and Commissary
The celebrated rapper, known for producing numerous chart-topping hits throughout the 1990s and 2000s, is now reportedly employing packets of mackerel, nicknamed “macks,” as currency. These packets, priced at $1 at the detention center commissary, serve as a medium of exchange among inmates, according to sources.
Inmates at the MDC are permitted to spend up to $180 every two weeks. Funds can be deposited into their commissary accounts by individuals on the outside, granting them access to various items.
Available commissary items include snacks such as six-packs of Snickers for $5.95 and Cheez-Its for $3.65, offering a glimpse into the limited luxuries accessible to Combs and other detainees, as reported.
A Stark Contrast to Former Luxury Lifestyle
This situation presents a stark contrast to the extravagant and lavish lifestyle that Combs previously cultivated and promoted as integral to his public image. His current reality within the confines of the detention center stands in sharp relief against his former world of affluence and indulgence.
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Inside 4 North: Combs’ Unit at MDC
Combs is housed in 4 North, a dormitory-style unit situated on the fourth floor of the MDC. This unit accommodates approximately 20 male inmates, often including high-profile individuals held at the facility.
Notably, Sam Bankman-Fried, the convicted cryptocurrency fraudster, was also previously held in 4 North before his transfer.
Furthermore, 4 North is often utilized to house government informants and former gang members who may face potential threats in the general inmate population, due to the heightened security and controlled environment.
Conditions in 4 North are generally considered more accommodating compared to other sections of the MDC, according to Gene Borrello, a former inmate.
“You have nothing to worry about,” Borrello, a former member of the Mafia turned informant, stated. Inmates within the unit generally have freedom of movement within the space, which includes bunk beds, televisions, a microwave, and a fitness area.
Correctional officers conduct multiple mandatory check-ins with inmates daily, Borrello explained. The bathroom facilities feature stalls, and meals are taken communally in a shared area, he added.
Although internet access is prohibited, inmates can access movies and music on tablets available for purchase at the commissary, providing limited entertainment options.
Life in Detention: Daily Routine for Combs
Combs frequently meets with his legal representatives within the detention facility, often utilizing a conference room adjacent to the 4 North common area, sources indicate.
He has been provided with a laptop, lacking WiFi connectivity, to review the extensive evidence presented by prosecutors in advance of his trial, set to commence on May 12.
However, the use of this laptop is restricted to the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., imposing limitations on his review of legal materials.
Combs’ hair and beard, formerly styled in jet black, are now gray, as hair dye is prohibited at MDC. However, toiletries and other items like watches and radios can be obtained through the commissary system.
As a pre-trial detainee, Combs is required to wear brown jail attire.
The jail’s dining services offer a rotating menu, featuring dishes like lasagna or vegetarian pasta fazool on alternate Fridays each month, accompanied by spinach and salad.
Visitation is limited to Tuesdays, and phone calls are restricted to 15-minute durations and are subject to government monitoring.
Despite these constraints, individuals familiar with the MDC suggest that Combs’ experience in 4 North is considerably less severe than conditions in other sections of the facility.
“Just being able to interact, play chess, and converse makes a significant difference,” commented Brad Rouse, a consultant for criminal defendants. Rouse himself spent a year in a dormitory-style unit one floor below Combs in 2008 on drug-related charges.
Legal Battles and Communication Scrutiny
Combs’ legal team has not formally expressed concerns regarding his conditions at the MDC. However, they have contested the government’s monitoring of his communications and the search of personal notes found within his unit.
Prosecutors allege that Combs has utilized other inmates’ allotted phone minutes and attempted to contact potential witnesses via three-way calls.
His defense has countered that these communication methods are common practice within correctional facilities. Combs has maintained his innocence and denied all charges levied against him.