Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty Wednesday on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution, but was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
The federal jury in New York returned its verdict after days of deliberation, capping a high-profile trial that captivated the nation.
The charges stemmed from accusations that Combs used his business empire as a front for a criminal enterprise to exploit women.
Prosecutors painted the hip-hop mogul as the head of an organization that facilitated sex trafficking, bribery, and forced labor. However, the jury rejected the racketeering and trafficking claims, finding Combs not guilty on those counts.
Combs was convicted of two counts of violating the Mann Act, a federal statute that makes it a crime to transport individuals across state lines for prostitution. Each count carries up to 10 years in prison. The verdict marks the first criminal conviction for Combs, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
When the verdict was announced, Combs prayed quietly, then celebrated with his family, who erupted in applause. His lawyers immediately pushed for his release pending sentencing, but prosecutors objected, and the judge ordered further arguments on the matter.
Prosecution and Defense Spar Over Evidence
The seven-week trial featured emotional testimony from Combs’ former girlfriends, including R&B singer Cassie (Casandra Ventura), who alleged that Combs controlled and abused her for years.
Ventura described drug-fueled “freak-offs” and physical assaults, including a 2016 incident caught on video. A former hotel security guard testified that Combs tried to bribe him following that attack.
Another former girlfriend, referred to as “Jane,” detailed coerced “hotel nights” involving male escorts while Combs watched. Both women said they felt pressured and manipulated by Combs’ power and influence.
The defense countered that the relationships and encounters were consensual and that the prosecution exaggerated evidence of a swinger lifestyle. Combs’ lawyers pointed to messages showing the women initiating encounters and planning trips, arguing that there was no criminal conspiracy.
In closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik described Combs as “the leader of a criminal enterprise” who believed he was untouchable. The defense, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, insisted that prosecutors had failed to meet the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
