NEW YORK: A federal jury in Manhattan delivered a split verdict Wednesday in the high-profile trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, acquitting him of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking but finding him guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
The verdict, announced after three days of deliberations following a seven-week trial, could see Combs, 55, face up to 20 years in prison, but it could it could also mean he’d face far less because there is no minimum charge.
The trial, which began May 5, centered on allegations that Combs coerced women into drug-fueled sexual performances, known as “freak-offs,” using violence, drugs, and blackmail. Prosecutors presented testimony from 34 witnesses, including Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who described a decade of abuse, and another woman, “Jane,” who testified under a pseudonym.
A 2016 hotel surveillance video showing Combs assaulting Ventura bolstered the prosecution’s case. However, the jury found insufficient evidence for the sex trafficking and racketeering charges, which carried potential life sentences.
Combs’ defense, led by Marc Agnifilo, argued the relationships were consensual, framing the “freak-offs” as part of a “lifestyle” rather than a criminal enterprise. The defense called no witnesses, relying on cross-examination to challenge the prosecution.
After the verdict, Combs clapped and fell to his knees in prayer, while his family cheered. His mother, Janice Combs, blew kisses to supporters outside the courthouse.
