Sean “Diddy” Combs has been convicted of illegal prostitution, but the disgraced rap mogul defeated more serious sex-trafficking and racketeering charges that could have yielded a lengthier prison term.
A jury in New York federal court deliberated for just over two days before finding Combs guilty on Wednesday (July 2) of transporting sex workers across state lines for dayslong hotel parties called “freak-offs.” The jury was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, though, that Combs committed sex-trafficking by forcing women to participate in the freak-offs or that the rapper and his underlings operated a criminal enterprise.
The partial acquittal is a significant win for Combs, since he would have faced a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and maximum term of life behind bars if found guilty on all charges. For the prostitution charges only, his conviction carries no mandatory minimum and a maximum sentence of 20 years.
The verdict is the culmination of Combs’ precipitous fall that began when singer Cassie Ventura brought stunning abuse allegations against him in a civil lawsuit in November 2023. Combs quickly settled with Ventura for $20 million, but a deluge of similar lawsuits followed. The civil litigation onslaught then turned into a criminal investigation, and Combs was indicted and arrested in September 2024.
Combs was accused during his seven-week trial of using his music empire to operate a criminal syndicate as defined by the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the federal “RICO” statute often deployed against mobsters and cartels.
Prosecutors said the rap mogul and his associates committed crimes like kidnapping, bribery, drug-dealing and arson (the latter being when Combs supposedly set Kid Cudi’s car on fire in 2012). Combs also allegedly used violent force and coercive threats to make Ventura and another anonymous women known as “Jane” participate in freak-offs – which, according to the prosecution, amounted to sex-trafficking.
Ventura and Jane both spent multiple days on the witness stand recounting the alleged abuse, and jurors saw a now-infamous surveillance video of Combs kicking Ventura in a hotel hallway and then dragging her by the hair to a room where a freak-off was happening. Dozens of other witnesses testified as well, including former Combs employees and the alleged victims’ friends and family.
Combs’ lawyers maintained throughout the case that while he did engage in some regrettable domestic abuse, the rapper’s employees were not criminal conspirators, and both Ventura and Jane consented to all sexual encounters.
The defense team focused extensively on text messages in which Ventura and Jane expressed romantic affection for Combs and enthusiasm for the freak-offs. Combs himself did not testify, and his lawyers put on no witnesses of their own, but they made their case via intense cross-examination throughout the trial.
Combs will likely appeal once his sentence has been finalized. He’s also still fighting the dozens of civil lawsuits that have been filed against him in the last two years, which carry the potential for hefty financial damages.
Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said during a press conference Wednesday evening that the verdict is a huge win and Combs is “absolutely innocent” of sex trafficking and racketeering.
“That is no longer just me saying that – that is the verdict of our jury,” Agnifilo told reporters gathered outside the courthouse. “Today is a victory of all victories for Sean Combs and our legal team.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York released a statement following the verdict Wednesday saying, “Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society.”
“Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma,” said the prosecutor’s office. “New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice. Prosecuting sex crimes requires brave victims to come forward and tell their harrowing stories. We and our law enforcement partners recognize the hardships victims endure and have prioritized a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases.”
Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement that the case “proved that change is long overdue.”
“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution,” said Wigdor. “By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat – with no reservation – that 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.”
Combs’ reps did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This story was updated at 11:29 a.m. ET to include a statement from Ventura’s lawyer. It was updated again at 12 p.m. ET to include a statement from the prosecution, and at 7:37 p.m. ET to include a comment from the defense.