Sean Combs suffered a non-life-threatening head injury at FCI Fort Dix, though federal prison officials have not publicly confirmed the reported altercation.
FORT DIX, NJ — Sean “Diddy” Combs was taken from federal prison to a hospital after suffering a head injury that multiple reports now link to a fight with fellow inmate Christopher “Dudus” Coke, the convicted former leader of a Jamaican criminal organization.
People reported Wednesday that a source said Combs was injured during a fight with another inmate and was taken to a hospital early Saturday, Oct. 10. TMZ separately reported that multiple sources inside FCI Fort Dix identified the other inmate as Coke. The accounts have not been publicly confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and details about how the confrontation began remain limited.
Combs’ injury was not considered life-threatening, according to People. He was returned to the prison later Saturday. A representative for Combs said after reports of the hospitalization that his health and well-being were the immediate concern. Earlier reporting from the Los Angeles Times confirmed that Combs had been treated for a head injury but said his representatives were still trying to determine what had happened.
TMZ reported that Combs and Coke came to blows during a period when Combs was outside his cell. The outlet attributed its account to unnamed sources inside the federal prison and reported that Combs suffered the head injury during the altercation. TMZ also reported that both inmates faced time in the Special Housing Unit after the incident. People confirmed that Combs returned to solitary confinement after receiving medical care but said details of the fight remained unclear.
Coke, known by the nickname “Dudus,” was once one of Jamaica’s most prominent organized-crime figures. Federal prosecutors said he led an international criminal organization involved in drug and firearms trafficking. Coke pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court in 2011 to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. A federal judge sentenced him in 2012 to 23 years in prison.
According to the Justice Department, Coke’s organization operated in Jamaica, the United States and other countries and was involved in the distribution of marijuana, cocaine and crack cocaine. Prosecutors said Coke controlled the organization for years before Jamaican authorities arrested him in 2010 and transferred him to U.S. custody. His criminal history makes the reported confrontation with Combs particularly notable, but federal authorities have not released an official account identifying Coke as the other inmate.
TMZ reported that the dispute was connected to anger among inmates following recent publicity about Combs’ treatment at Fort Dix and subsequent prison searches. That claim also rests on unnamed sources and has not been independently confirmed by prison officials. Reports in recent weeks have alleged that Combs had access to prohibited items and special services while incarcerated. His representatives have criticized the scrutiny surrounding his prison life.
Combs had already been placed in the Special Housing Unit after reports about his alleged access to contraband and other privileges. The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month that allegations included access to a cellphone, a modified tablet and alcohol. The newspaper reported that his projected release date had been moved to March 2, 2028, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate database.
The 56-year-old music producer is serving a 50-month federal prison sentence. A jury convicted him in July 2025 on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was sentenced on Oct. 3, 2025. The jury acquitted him of the more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking charges that had been brought against him.
Combs is serving the remainder of his sentence at FCI Fort Dix, a low-security federal institution in New Jersey. His hospitalization is confirmed by multiple news organizations, while the reported fight with Coke is based on accounts from unnamed sources. The Bureau of Prisons has not publicly released a detailed account of the incident or confirmed what disciplinary action, if any, followed it.
Author note: Last updated October 14, 2026.