By The General Justice Lawyer, July 2
New York, NY – Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy in a high-profile federal trial in Manhattan, delivering a mixed verdict after seven weeks of testimony.
The jury’s decision, reached after three days of deliberation, could result in up to 20 years in prison for Combs, though Judge Arun Subramanian is currently weighing whether to grant bail before sentencing.
The guilty verdicts on Counts 3 and 5 relate to Combs transporting his former girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, and another woman, identified as “Jane,” for prostitution, each carrying a maximum 10-year sentence. Combs was acquitted on Count 1 (racketeering conspiracy) and Counts 2 and 4 (sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion), which could have led to a life sentence.
Following the verdict, Combs appeared relieved, making prayer gestures in court, while his family, including mother Janice Combs and children, expressed initial relief at the acquittal on the gravest charge.
The trial, which began in May 2025, featured graphic testimony from 34 prosecution witnesses, including Ventura and Jane, who detailed allegations of physical and sexual abuse.
Prosecutors argued Combs used “power, violence, and fear” to control victims, while the defense, without calling witnesses, relied on cross-examination to challenge the prosecution’s narrative, claiming Combs was unfairly targeted. The jury deliberated for nearly 14 hours, initially deadlocking on the racketeering charge before reaching a full verdict on July.
Outside the courthouse, reactions were polarized. Supporters chanted “Free Puff!” and “Let Puffy go!” while women’s advocacy groups, like UltraViolet, expressed disappointment, stating the verdict undermines survivors who testified.
“This is a stain on a criminal justice system that fails to hold abusers accountable,” said Arisha Hatch, UltraViolet’s interim executive director.
Combs’ legal team, led by Teny Geragos, is pushing for a $1 million bond for his release, while prosecutors emphasized the severity of the prostitution convictions.
Combs, once a hip-hop mogul whose Bad Boy Entertainment empire spanned music, fashion, and liquor, faces a potential end to his career.
A CBS News special, “Sean Diddy Combs: The Verdict,” airs at 9 p.m. ET on July 2, with an ABC News special, “Verdict: The Diddy Trial,” airing at 10/9c, streaming on Hulu and Disney+ the next day.
The case continues to spark debates over justice, celebrity influence, and accountability in the entertainment industry.
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