- Sean "Diddy" Combs was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, with potentially up to 20 years in prison.
- He was acquitted of charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering, which could have led to a life sentence.
- The trial involved 34 witnesses, including two of Combs' ex-girlfriends, who testified over the course of eight weeks.
Following weeks of trial and after three days of deliberation, the jury in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial delivered a verdict on Wednesday morning.
Combs, 55, was convicted of two of the five charges against him and was acquitted on the other three, according to NBC.
The charges he was acquitted of, sex trafficking and two counts of racketeering, were the charges that could have landed him in prison for life.
But the jury found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, which could mean a jail sentence of up to 10 years, per The Associated Press. The verdict is also likely to end his career as a music executive.
During the eight-week trial, prosecutors called 34 witnesses, including two of Combs’ ex-girlfriends.
How long was the trial?
Jury selection for the trial against Combs began on May 5. Over the course of the weekslong trial, the prosecution called 34 witnesses to the stand. The witnesses included two of Combs’ ex-girlfriends, per the AP.
Rapper Scott Mescudi, known as Kid Cudi, also testified against Combs, speaking about the abusive relationship between Combs and his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Ventura served as the prosecution’s star witness throughout the trial.
Before reaching a verdict, the jury deliberated for over 13 hours over the course of three days, per the AP. The jury was made up of eight men and four women.
According to NBC, throughout the trial the jury heard the prosecution accuse Combs of “leveraging his power, wealth and influence as the head of a ‘criminal enterprise’ to sexually abuse and exploit women for his own gratification over two decades.”
The defense argued that the case against Combs was exaggerated and that he was on trial for living a “swingers” lifestyle that included violent behavior and drugs, but that it was all consensual.
What was Diddy convicted of?
Combs was convicted of two counts of transportation for purposes of prostitution, which has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Between the two charges, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
The music mogul was convicted of “flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters in violation of the federal Mann Act,” according to the AP.
The Mann Act was created in 1910 and prohibited the interstate or foreign transport of a female “for prostitution, debauchery or for any other immoral purpose.” In 1986, it was updated to be gender neutral and was changed from trying to legislate morality, instead saying “any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense,” per the AP.
Will Combs be released ahead of his sentencing?
Combs’ lawyers have asked for him to be released from federal detention ahead of his sentencing, per NBC. He has been in federal detention for nearly a year. His lawyers asked for him to be released on conditions to his home in Miami with a $1 million bond.
As prosecutors push back against the request to have Combs released, the judge asked both sides to submit letters with their arguments by this afternoon, according to USA Today.
“Prosecutors said a convicted person should be detained unless they’re not likely to flee, and the burden is on Combs and his lawyers to show he wouldn’t leave the country,” per NBC.
How Combs and his team reacted to the verdict
Combs’ family, including his mother and six adult children, have been regulars in the courtroom throughout the trial, per CNN.
Before being led out of the courtroom, Combs knelt down in front of his chair and bowed his head as if he was praying. He then stood up and faced the gallery, which prompted the gallery to clap and cheer.
Combs faced his family, smiling, and said, “Thank you. Love you mom. I love you. I love you. I love you,” according to CNN.
After Combs had left the courtroom, his family began chanting “dream team” to the defense lawyers who embraced each other and hugged Combs’ family members.
As Combs’ family left the courthouse after the verdict was released, their van was swarmed by a crowd of supporters shouting “Free Puff! Free Puff! Free Puff!” per NBC.
What Ventura’s lawyer said about the trial and verdict
Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer for Combs’ ex-girlfriend Ventura, said “there was a lot of mixed emotions in that courtroom” after the verdict was read, per CNN.
Wigdor added that Ventura “paved the way” for Combs to be convicted on some of the charges against him.
“This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023. Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution,” Wigdor said, per CNN.
He continued: “By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice.”
Wigdor also praised Ventura for the courage she displayed throughout the trial.
“She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors,” Wigdor said, according to USA Today.
What the prosecution said about the verdict
Following the verdict, Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for New York’s southern district whose office prosecuted Sean “Diddy” Combs for this trial, and Ricky Patel, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ New York field office, released a statement, per CNN.
“Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society. Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma. New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice,” the statement said.
“Prosecuting sex crimes requires brave victims to come forward and tell their harrowing stories. We and our law enforcement partners recognize the hardships victims endure and have prioritized a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases,” the statement continued.
Their statement also thanked SDNY’s Civil Rights Unit, NYPD and others who work to combat human trafficking and other sex crimes and who also worked to convict Combs, according to CNN.
