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Diddy Combs not guilty of sex trafficking, racketeering; guilty of transportation for prostitution
Diddy Combs not guilty of sex trafficking, racketeering; guilty of transportation for prostitution
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 3 mins read
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy but was convicted on two counts of transporting women for prostitution, following a high-profile trial that concluded Tuesday in New York.
The jury, after 13 hours of deliberation over three days, delivered a mixed verdict on all five federal counts against the music mogul.
Here’s how the jury ruled:
Racketeering conspiracy: not guilty
Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura: not guilty
Transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others: guilty
Sex trafficking of woman known as "Jane": not guilty
Transportation for prostitution of "Jane" and others: guilty
The trial, which began in May, featured weeks of testimony centered largely on the prosecution's case. Both Cassie Ventura and the woman identified as “Jane” testified in graphic detail about so-called “freak-offs” or “hotel nights” – encounters where Combs allegedly arranged for male escorts to have sex with his female partners while he watched, sometimes recording or directing the acts.
Before the verdict was read, Combs was seen praying with his children and hugging his lawyers. As the judge instructed the room to remain calm, audible gasps and reactions erupted in the overflow room where members of the press and public had gathered to hear the decision.
Despite the guilty verdicts, Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges, prompting his defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, to ask the judge to release Combs on $1 million bond, secured by family members present in court.
“The defendant’s acquittal on the most serious charges meant he should be released to go live at his home in Florida,” Agnifilo said.
However, prosecutors urged the court to keep Combs in custody.
“It is clear that the defendant does pose a danger,” argued Prosecutor Maurene Comey, adding that she will seek the maximum 20-year sentence—10 years for each of the two transportation convictions.
Combs has been in jail since his arrest in September 2024 and will remain in custody until the sentencing hearing, unless the judge rules otherwise. The exact date of sentencing has not yet been set.
The charges on which Combs was convicted—transportation for the purpose of prostitution—carry a maximum of 10 years each, which is notably less severe than the potential penalties tied to the racketeering or sex trafficking counts.
As the hearing ended, Combs appeared visibly shaken. He got down on his knees, put his face into his chair, and seemed to pray, trembling before being escorted out of the courtroom.
Judge Arun Subramanian, who presided over the trial, took a moment to thank the jury for its service.
“You have the right to talk to the press, but you have good reason not to,” he said, advising jurors to protect the privacy of deliberations and to respect each other’s perspectives.
This verdict concludes one of the most closely watched celebrity trials in recent memory, but questions about Combs’ future remain. For now, the world awaits the sentencing decision that will determine how long the music icon may spend behind bars.
Credit - Additional information from The BBC
