Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Not Guilty Of Racketeering, Sex Trafficking In Split Verdict
Split Verdict: A federal jury found Sean “Diddy” Combs not guilty Wednesday of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, three of the most serious charges the music mogul faced which would have meant life in prison.
However, the jury did find Combs guilty of two lesser charges on transportation to engage in prostitution in connection with his ex-girlfriend, the singer known as Cassie, and with another ex-girlfriend who testified in the trial under the pseudonym “Jane.” He faces up to 10 years in prison for each count, pending sentencing later this month.
The Deliberations
"We have reached a verdict on all counts," the jury wrote in a note at 9:52 a.m. Wednesday morning after deliberating for more than 14 hours over three days. The jury, which heard from dozens of witnesses over the last six weeks, was made up of 4 women and 8 men.
When the jury read their verdict, Combs was emotional. Reporters in court noted his feet were visibly shaking as it was read. Courtroom sketches captured the hip hop star kneeling on the floor of the courtroom and laying his head on the seat of a chair after the verdict was read.
As each juror confirmed to the court that the verdict as it was read was accurate, Combs nodded his head and mouthed “thank you” to each of them.
After the verdict was confirmed, Combs turned to his family in the courtroom and said “I’m coming home, baby!”
Bail Denied
…Not so fast, said Judge Subramanian. In a bond hearing Wednesday afternoon, the judge in the case denied Combs bail. He has been in jail since his arrest last summer and will remain there as he awaits sentencing.
Combs’ lawyers argued that he should be released with a $1 million bond guaranteed by three family members and his travel restricted to parts of Florida, California and New York. His lawyers said he would surrender his passport and consent to regular drug testing.
Prosecutors argued Combs —with his wealth and worldwide connections — is a flight risk. Victims were also concerned he might try to take revenge on them.
Judge Subramanian’s move to deny bail may suggest he’s looking at giving Combs more jail time for his convictions.
Possible Sentence
Judge Subramanian has not yet set a sentencing date for Combs, but prosecutors and Combs’ defense team are already disagreeing about how much time he should serve.
Each charge of transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors argue the federal sentencing guidelines — which are a set of rules the government publishes every year to give judges a framework to use to determine sentences — put Combs’ sentence in the 4 to 5 year range.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Ryan Comey said the government plans to pursue “significant incarceration” for Combs.
Defense attorneys argue the guidelines point toward a 21- to 27-month sentence — or about two years.
The 9 months that Combs spent in jail awaiting trial will likely be subtracted from whatever sentence he ultimately receives.
Reaction From All Sides
The prosecution spoke out in a statement after the verdict.
"Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations Ricky Patel said.
Federal prosecutors built their case around a central theory: that Combs used his wealth and influence to manipulate and control young artists, employees, and romantic partners, and that this power dynamic allowed him to allegedly commit acts of sexual violence, coercion, and obstruction without consequence.
Elie Honig, a legal analyst for CNN and a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (where this case was tried), said the Southern District clearly “over charged” Diddy.
“I think a reasonable jury could have heard this testimony from Cassie Ventura and from Jane, the other victim and said, yes, there was coercion.” Honig said. “I do fault the Southern District for charging ‘Rico,’ for charging racketeering.”
We also heard from lawyers for Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura who gave some of the most emotional testimony of the trial while 8 months pregnant with her third child with her now-husband.
“We believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this 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,” attorney Douglas Wigdor said.
Combs has said that all of the sex was consensual and that while his relationships sometimes involved domestic violence, he wasn't engaged in trafficking. Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said the rapper was simply part of the swinger lifestyle and argued the prosecution’s case was built on old grudges from former romantic partners and employees.
The defense rested its case after a less than 30 minute presentation—without calling a single witness — not even Combs himself, despite weeks of speculation that he would take the stand in his own defense.
Combs had reportedly wanted to testify, but his attorneys ultimately advised against it, citing the risks of cross-examination.
The decision to stay silent is not unusual: according to federal data, fewer than 2% of defendants in federal criminal trials choose to testify on their own behalf.
