A U.S. federal court on Wednesday convicted music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution, but acquitted him of sex trafficking and racketeering, following a high-profile seven-week trial that gripped the entertainment industry and the public.
The 55-year-old producer was found guilty of facilitating prostitution across state lines but was cleared of the more serious charges involving coercive sexual exploitation and allegations that he ran a criminal organisation — a racketeering charge that could have resulted in a life sentence.
The jury returned a partial verdict on Tuesday, delivering decisions on four out of five counts, but was deadlocked on the racketeering charge. In a note to presiding Judge Arun Subramanian, jurors said: “We are unable to reach a verdict on count 1 as we have jurors with unpersuadable opinions on both sides.”
Following the judge’s instruction to resume deliberations, the jury reconvened Wednesday and ultimately found Combs not guilty of racketeering.
Sex Trafficking Charges Dismissed
Combs had also faced two sex trafficking charges, which were similarly dismissed by the jury, marking a significant relief for his defence team, which maintained that the relationships in question were “complicated but consensual.”
His lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, admitted that Combs had behaved abusively in certain past relationships but argued that the prosecution failed to prove criminal enterprise or coercion.
“None of the supposed co-conspirators were brought forward. This was a case built on unreliable witnesses, some of whom were offered immunity,” Agnifilo said after the verdict.
Background: Cassie Lawsuit Sparked Prosecution
The case emerged following a civil lawsuit by Combs’s former partner, singer Cassie Ventura, who accused him of 11 years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse. Although the civil matter was settled out of court for $20 million, it led to similar complaints from other women and triggered the criminal probe that resulted in the current federal case.
Ventura and another accuser — identified only as “Jane” — testified during the trial, detailing alleged abuse, intimidation, and instances of coerced sex. Their testimonies were supported by former employees who described a culture of fear, drug abuse, and coercion inside Combs’s business empire.
What the Court Found
Prosecutors alleged that Combs led a criminal ring with staff who facilitated his abuses, citing allegations ranging from forced labour, drug trafficking, bribery, to arson. However, the court did not find sufficient evidence to support claims of a sustained criminal enterprise.
Combs now faces sentencing only on the two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution, which carry lesser penalties but still represent a significant legal setback.
As of Wednesday, no sentencing date has been announced.
The verdict concludes one of the most closely watched celebrity trials in recent U.S. history and leaves the door open for potential appeals and further civil actions.
