Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering after a closely followed high-profile federal trial in New York City. He was convicted on two lesser prostitution charges.
The split verdict was read on Wednesday, July 2.
The jury convicted Combs on:
- Count 3: Transportation to engage in prostitution involving Casandra Ventura
- Count 5: Transportation to engage in prostitution involving “Jane”
He was acquitted on:
- Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy
- Count 2: Sex trafficking of Casandra Ventura
- Count 4: Sex trafficking of “Jane”This is a developing story.
Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and could face up to 20 years in prison if he is sentenced to consecutive maximum prison terms, per CNN.
Had Combs been convicted on the charges of sex trafficking or racketeering, he could have spent the rest of his life in prison. Instead, it’s relatively good news for the music mogul, who has spent the past several months behind bars and whose public reputation has taken a massive hit in the wake of the charges.
Combs’ star-powered defense team successfully argued that prosecutors had failed to prove the serious charges.
Over the course of the trial, which began in May, prosecutors called 34 witnesses over the course of 29 days of testimony. Among them was Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ ex, with whom he was in a relationship for 11 years.
Prosecutors sought to prove that she had been coerced into participating in “Freak Offs,” which were elaborate sex performances with male sex workers.
Ventura, who testified while eight and a half months pregnant, gave several days of testimony describing abuse and detailing the “Freak Offs.”
Combs’ attorneys argued throughout the trial that the sexual encounters had been consensual and introduced several exhibits, including text messages, into evidence intended to reinforce that argument.
Though Combs was acquitted on the most serious counts, he still faces several dozen lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct, meaning his legal battles will continue. Still, being found not guilty in federal court is a massive victory for Combs, who now sports gray hair, having spent the months leading up to his highly anticipated trial behind bars.
