In a dramatic conclusion to a high-profile federal trial, the jury acquitted hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs of racketeering and sex trafficking charges but found him guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution on July 2 at a New York courthouse.
The verdict, delivered after 13 hours of jury deliberation, has caused ripples across the entertainment industry, with Combs now facing up to 10 years in prison as he awaits sentencing on October 3.
The trial, which gripped global attention, centred on allegations that Combs ran a criminal enterprise involving coerced sexual encounters, “freak-offs”, and physical abuse.
Key evidence included 2016 security footage showing Combs assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel.
Ventura’s testimony detailed an 11-year relationship marked by violence and drug-fuelled coercion.
“I felt trapped, like I had no choice,” Ventura told the court, describing her struggle to break free from Combs’ influence.
Another witness, ‘Jane’, recounted similar experiences, alleging Combs pressured her into non-consensual acts.
Combs remains in detention
Despite the acquittals on the most serious charges, which carried a potential life sentence, Combs was denied bail and remains detained in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Centre.
His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, hailed the outcome as a triumph.
“This is a victory for Sean and the jury system. They saw through the prosecution’s narrative,” Agnifilo told the media outside the courthouse.
However, prosecutors, pushing for a four- to five-year sentence, argued Combs’ history of domestic violence justified his detention.
The defence’s strategy relied on cross-examining witnesses, painting Ventura’s and others’ participation as consensual.
“Sean’s lifestyle was unconventional, but not criminal,” Agnifilo stated in closing arguments.
Combs’ mother, Janice, expressed relief, saying: “My son is not perfect, but he’s not a monster.”
The trial’s fallout continues, with Combs facing multiple civil lawsuits alleging decades of misconduct.
Social media buzzed with reactions, from 50 Cent’s taunts to fans debating the verdict’s fairness.
