Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges

Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offence but acquitted on Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, that could have put one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life.

The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations.

It could still send Combs, 55, to prison, for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality TV star.

What charges did Diddy face?

Racketeering conspiracy
Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura
Transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others
Sex trafficking of woman known as ‘Jane’
Transportation for prostitution of ‘Jane’ and others

Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends, and paid male sex workers to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act.

But the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate his girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fuelled sex marathons with the men.

This included the charge of sex trafficking one of the prosecution’s most important witnesses: the hip-hop mogul’s former longtime girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.

Combs and his defence team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges.

The jury foreperson confirmed the verdict reached was unanimous.

After they read the verdict, Combs held his hands up in a prayer motion, looking at the jury, and hugged his defence lawyer Teny Geragos.

After the verdict was read, the judge gave the jury guidance on speaking about the case to the media, to the public and more.

Combs continuing to pump his right fist subtly, seemingly satisfied that he was acquitted on the most serious charges.

Combs seemed buoyant arriving in the courtroom earlier Wednesday, a contrast to his mood a day earlier after he learned that the jury had reached a yet-to-be-disclosed verdict on all but one of the five charges he faced.

Combs smiled and clasped his hands together in the air toward his family and supporters before hugging several of his lawyers and sitting down to await the outcome of the jury’s third day of deliberations.

A short while later, Combs, his head bowed, stood several feet from his family for less than a minute as they sat with their heads bowed in prayer.

As they did on Monday, Combs and family members then applauded before he was led from the courtroom. The family later got in a van and left the court.

On Tuesday, US district judge Arun Subramanian had ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day after they said they were unable to reach consensus on the top count: racketeering conspiracy.