ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It was announced on Wednesday that Sean “Diddy” Combs is staying locked up after a judge rejected the hip-hop mogul’s proposal that he await his sex trafficking trial in the luxury of his Florida mansion instead of a grim Brooklyn federal jail.

An indictment alleges Combs coerced and abused women for years, with the help of a network of associates and employees, while using blackmail and violent acts including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings to keep victims from speaking out.

While the investigation into Combs has been going on for at least a year, his arrest and the unsealing of the indictment raises even more questions about the severity of the problem of human trafficking. 

A federal indictment unsealed against the music mogul charges him with three felony counts – racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Combs will remain in federal custody after he was denied bail and Wednesday evening was unable to appeal that decision.

Now, locked up as he awaits trial, anti-human trafficking advocates say it sends a strong message.

“So, you know the expression, 'If you're going to shoot at the king, make sure you don't miss,'” said Melanie Blow, a founding member of Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking of the arrest of somebody as rich, famous and powerful as Sean Combs.

The indictment alleges Combs of heading up a sordid operation involving sex workers, sex crimes, violence, blackmail and more dating back several years.

“I think prosecutors are getting better at that now," Blow said. "Because they've done it a couple of times, successfully. I mean, they got [Jeffrey] Epstein. They got [Ghislaine] Maxwell. They are getting better about this."

The performer says he’s not guilty.

His lawyer claims the case stems from one long-term consensual relationship and claims the evidence is problematic.

Blow says arrests give victims confidence to come forward.

“I hope it sends the message that it's OK to come forward," she said. "You will be believed. You will be taken seriously. The system isn't perfect, but people do take this seriously.”

Advocates are thankful to those they say had the bravery to speak out.

“Thank you. You're brave [and] we appreciate that," Blow said. "A lot of people you're never even going to meet appreciate that. You're making the world a better place."

While the jail doors close behind Combs, the hope is doors may open for trafficking victims.

“If you're a victim of any kind of trafficking or sexual violence or anything like that, any situation where your life is being defined by somebody else who's exploiting you or harming you, it's OK to reach out,” stated Blow.

If you are in imminent danger, call 911.

The National Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888 or by texting 233733.

To report report suspected human trafficking, call the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at 1-866-347-2423.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.