Sean “Diddy” Combs acquitted of intercourse trafficking and racketeering, convicted on prostitution-related counts

Sean “Diddy” Combs was discovered responsible Wednesday of transportation to have interaction in prostitution in his federal trial in New York Metropolis, however the music mogul was acquitted of the extra extreme prices of racketeering conspiracy and intercourse trafficking. 

Combs will stay in detention whereas he awaits his sentencing. Decide Arun Subramanian mentioned later Wednesday he denied bail as a result of he disagreed with the protection’s argument that the crimes should not set off necessary detention. Combs will get 10 months credit score for time served up to now, the decide mentioned, proposing a sentencing date for Oct. 3.

Combs was convicted of two counts of the prostitution-related cost. Every rely carries a most sentence of 10 years in jail. Prosecutors mentioned their preliminary calculations point out Combs ought to get no less than 51 to 63 months imprisonment on the 2 convictions, or a sentence of roughly 4 to 5 years.

How did Sean “Diddy” Combs react to the decision?

Because the jury foreperson introduced not responsible on the racketeering conspiracy and intercourse trafficking cost involving Combs’ former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura — the R&B singer often called Cassie — Combs put his hand to his face, his fingers resting on his temples.

When he heard the phrase “responsible” for Rely 3, the primary prostitution-related cost, he was startled. However then “not responsible” got here for the second intercourse trafficking rely involving one other former girlfriend who testified underneath the pseudonym “Jane.” Combs held arms with legal professional Teny Geragos and leaned in to speak to her.

Combs checked out his household and made prayer arms. He nodded as every juror affirmed the decision, shaking his fists triumphantly underneath the desk. He made prayer arms to the jury, hugged Geragos and smiled. He mouthed “thanks” to legal professional Marc Agnifilo.

Combs turned to his household, clasped his arms collectively and appeared to say: “I am coming residence.”

He appeared towards the reporters within the courtroom and once more shook his fist underneath the desk. Combs leaned ahead and nodded in settlement on the jury because the decide thanked them. He then put his face in his arms and smiled. Combs made prayer arms and mouthed “thanks” to the jurors quite a lot of instances. Then he clasped his arms and stored thanking them. He leaned again and tilted his head up, once more placing his face in his arms as if in disbelief.

Combs kneeled down on the bottom, put his arms on his chair and prayed. He and his household erupted in loud applause, cheering loudly and whistling.

Following the choice, Combs’ attorneys argued for him to be launched from custody instantly and be capable to return to his Miami residence, emphasizing that this was his first conviction. Prosecutors opposed the protection’s request and urged Decide Arun Subramanian to maintain Combs detained till his sentencing.

Subramanian acknowledged that Combs did not wish to return to a federal detention middle in Brooklyn the place he’d been in custody since his arrest final September. Combs shook his head no.

The decide requested each the prosecution and protection to submit letters as to why Combs ought to be launched Wednesday or stay detained.

Combs’ attorneys proposed of their letter {that a} million-dollar bond be posted for him and that his journey be restricted to elements of Florida, California, New York and New Jersey. New Jersey and New York have been included to accommodate Combs touring to attend courtroom and meet together with his attorneys.

Combs’ attorneys additionally proposed surrendering his passport and present process drug testing when required by the courtroom.

Prosecutors proposed that Combs continued to be detained and his bail utility be denied.

The developments come after jurors mentioned Tuesday they’d agreed on 4 of the 5 counts towards Combs however disagreed on racketeering conspiracy. They reached a verdict on all 5 counts Wednesday morning. 

Jurors started deliberating in U.S. District Court docket in decrease Manhattan on Monday. They mentioned they’d reached a partial verdict Tuesday, however Subramanian despatched them again to proceed deliberating on the remaining rely.

What have been the fees towards Sean “Diddy” Combs?

The grand jury indictment towards the 55-year-old Combs, unsealed in September 2024, initially charged the hip-hop mogul with three counts following his arrest at a Manhattan resort. In April, earlier than the trial started, prosecutors filed further prices, bringing the entire variety of counts towards him to 5.

Combs pleaded not responsible to all the fees.

The fees towards Combs and every verdict have been:

• Rely 1: Racketeering conspiracy – NOT GUILTY
• Rely 2: Intercourse trafficking by drive, fraud or coercion (Casandra Ventura) – NOT GUILTY
• Rely 3: Transportation to have interaction in prostitution (Casandra Ventura) – GUILTY
• Rely 4: Intercourse trafficking by drive, fraud or coercion (“Jane”) – NOT GUILTY
• Rely 5: Transportation to have interaction in prostitution (“Jane”) – GUILTY

What’s the Mann Act?

The prostitution-related prices allege violations of the Mann Act, a legislation that makes it a federal crime to move somebody throughout state strains for prostitution.

Earlier than jurors started their deliberations, Subramanian gave them directions on the right way to apply the legislation to the info introduced throughout the trial. Jurors have been informed that, with the intention to discover Combs responsible of the prostitution-related prices, prosecutors will need to have confirmed past an affordable doubt that he knowingly transported a person in “interstate or international commerce” and meant that the person “interact in an act of prostitution.”

Subramanian famous that it wasn’t crucial for prosecutors to show that partaking in prostitution was Combs’ sole objective in transporting an individual throughout a state line or international border. Nevertheless, prosecutors wanted to show {that a} “important or motivating objective” of the journey was prostitution.

The cost of racketeering conspiracy requires prosecutors to show quite a lot of components: that there was an settlement amongst two or extra folks to take part in a sample of exercise that will have an effect on interstate commerce; that the defendant willfully joined it; and that members of the conspiracy dedicated two or extra racketeering acts. The charging doc lists quite a lot of alleged racketeering acts, together with kidnapping, bribery, intercourse trafficking and compelled labor.

Prosecutors alleged that Combs’ enterprise empire created a prison enterprise that he used for years to cowl up acts of violence and abuse and to coerce girls into fulfilling his sexual wishes. Jurors heard from greater than 30 witnesses over the course of seven weeks because the prosecution went via its case.

Combs denied the accusations however selected to not take the stand to testify in his protection. His attorneys didn’t name any witnesses throughout the trial, although they did conduct intensive cross-examinations of the federal government’s witnesses. Combs’ attorneys argued the prosecution did not show the fees past an affordable doubt.

“Freak-offs” a part of emotional and graphic testimony 

The high-profile trial, which began in Could, included graphic and emotional testimony from two of Combs’ former girlfriends.

Ventura, who spent greater than a decade with him, testified about drug-fueled intercourse periods that Combs allegedly known as “freak-offs.” Ventura testified that he directed all of the encounters, which might final for days, and that she felt pressured to take part to make him joyful.

Ventura testified that Combs managed each facet of her life, and that she usually did issues out of concern, since bodily abuse was “frequent.” 

Combs’ attorneys argued that the encounters have been consensual. Throughout cross-examination, the protection confirmed the jury a 2009 message from Ventura to Combs that learn, “I am all the time able to freak off.”

Ventura additionally testified a couple of 2016 incident which was caught on surveillance video exhibiting Combs beating and kicking her in a California resort hallway. Combs apologized on the time, saying his conduct was “inexcusable” and that he took “full duty” for his actions. 

Ventura testified that the assault occurred as she was making an attempt to go away a “freak-off” that had turned violent. A former resort safety officer testified that Combs provided him money after the assault, which the officer mentioned he understood to be a bribe.

Ventura had filed a civil lawsuit towards Combs in 2023, accusing him of bodily and sexually abusing her. Combs denied the claims and rapidly reached a settlement together with her. In his closing argument to the jury Friday, Agnifilo mentioned, “In case you needed to choose a winner on this entire factor, it is exhausting to not choose Cassie.”

One other former girlfriend of Combs testified underneath the pseudonym “Jane” to guard her identification. She informed the courtroom she usually participated in what she known as “resort nights,” which additionally concerned medication. Jane testified she would have intercourse with a male escort whereas Combs watched. She mentioned she informed Combs many instances that she did not wish to have intercourse with different males and did not just like the “resort nights.” 

Combs’ attorneys displayed messages exhibiting her organising “resort nights.” Jane mentioned she felt pressured and that she had grown financially depending on Combs.

Within the prosecution’s closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Legal professional Christy Slavik described Combs as “the chief of a prison enterprise. He would not take no for a solution. And now about many crimes he dedicated with members of his enterprise.”

She mentioned he used a “small military” of workers to hurt girls after which cowl it up. “He thought that his fame, wealth and energy put him above the legislation,” Slavik mentioned.

Agnifilo countered by arguing that prosecutors “badly exaggerated” proof of a swinger way of life and threesomes, combining it with leisure drug use and calling it a racketeering conspiracy.

“He didn’t do the issues he is charged with. He did not do racketeering conspiracy and intercourse trafficking,” Combs’ lawyer mentioned.

“Sean Diddy Combs: The Verdict,” a one-hour particular on the case, will air on CBS Information 24/7 at 9 p.m. ET the night time of the jury’s resolution. Obtain the free CBS Information app to observe in your cell or streaming system, or stream on Paramount+.

Jericka Duncan and

The Related Press

contributed to this report.