Sean “Diddy” Combs was discovered responsible Wednesday of transportation to interact in prostitution in his federal trial in New York, however the music mogul was acquitted of the extra extreme fees of racketeering conspiracy and intercourse trafficking.
Combs was convicted of two counts of the prostitution-related cost. Every rely carries a most sentence of 10 years in jail.
Following the choice, Combs’ legal professionals argued for him to be launched from custody instantly and have the ability to return to his Miami house, emphasizing that this was his first conviction. Prosecutors opposed the protection’s request.
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 Courtroom in decrease Manhattan on Monday. They mentioned they’d reached a partial verdict Tuesday, however Decide Arun Subramanian despatched them again to proceed deliberating on the remaining rely.
What are 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 fees, bringing the whole variety of counts towards him to 5.
Combs pleaded not responsible to all the fees.
The fees towards Combs are:
- Rely 1: Rackeering conspiracy
- Rely 2: Intercourse trafficking by power, fraud or coercion (Casandra Ventura)
- Rely 3: Transportation to interact in prostitution(Casandra Ventura)
- Rely 4: Intercourse trafficking by power, fraud or coercion (“Jane”)
- Rely 5: Transportation to interact in prostitution (“Jane”)
“Jane” is a pseudonym utilized in court docket for an ex-girlfriend of Combs who testified towards him.
The prostitution-related fees allege violations of the Mann Act, a legislation that makes it a federal crime to move somebody throughout state strains for prostitution.
The cost of racketeering conspiracy requires prosecutors to show a variety of parts: that there was an settlement amongst two or extra individuals 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 a variety 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 ladies into fulfilling his sexual needs. Jurors heard from greater than 30 witnesses over the course of seven weeks because the prosecution went by means of 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 in depth cross-examinations of the federal government’s witnesses. Combs’ legal professionals argued the prosecution didn’t show the fees past an inexpensive 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.
Casandra Ventura, the R&B singer often called Cassie 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 may final for days, and that she felt compelled to take part to make him pleased.
Ventura testified that Combs managed each facet of her life, and that she typically did issues out of worry, since bodily abuse was “frequent.”
Combs’ attorneys argued that the encounters had 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 displaying 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 attempting to go away a “freak-off” that had turned violent. A former resort safety officer testified that Combs supplied 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 shortly reached a settlement together with her. In his closing argument to the jury Friday, protection legal professional Marc Agnifilo mentioned, “For those who needed to decide a winner on this entire factor, it is laborious to not decide Cassie.”
One other former girlfriend of Combs testified beneath the pseudonym “Jane” to guard her id. She informed the court docket she typically participated in what she known as “resort nights,” which additionally concerned medicine. Jane testified she would have intercourse with a male escort whereas Combs watched. She mentioned she informed Combs many occasions that she did not wish to have intercourse with different males and did not just like the “resort nights.”
Combs’ legal professionals displayed messages displaying 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 does not take no for a solution. And now you understand about many crimes he dedicated with members of his enterprise.”
She mentioned he used a “small military” of staff to hurt ladies 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 life-style 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 evening of the jury’s resolution. Obtain the free CBS Information app to observe in your cell or streaming system, or stream on Paramount+.
Alice Gainer and
contributed to this report.
