Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found guilty on two federal counts of transporting individuals for prostitution but was acquitted of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
The partial verdict was delivered on Wednesday by a 12-member jury—comprising eight men and four women from Manhattan, Westchester, and the Bronx—after more than 13 hours of deliberation following an eight-week trial in Manhattan.
Combs, 55, was convicted under the federal Mann Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years per count. The charges involved two women identified in court as “Jane” and Casandra Ventura. Had he been found guilty on all counts, Combs could have faced life in prison.
Despite the convictions, the outcome is seen as a limited legal victory for Combs, given that prosecutors had painted him as the mastermind of an alleged criminal enterprise. Prosecutors accused him of using “power, violence, and fear” to coerce women into engaging in sex acts with male prostitutes for his own entertainment, often recording the encounters.
However, the jury cleared Combs of the more severe charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Inside the courtroom, Combs appeared emotional as the verdict was read. He clasped his hands as if in prayer, mouthed “thank you” toward the jurors, briefly covered his face, and exhaled deeply. He then smiled, shook hands with his legal team, and acknowledged his family with a gesture of gratitude.
Combs’ defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, admitted his client had a troubled past involving drug use and domestic incidents but insisted the government had overstated its case.
“This is Mr. Combs’ first conviction, and it relates to a prostitution offense,” Agnifilo said, asking the court to allow Combs to return to his Miami Beach home while awaiting sentencing. “He is not a flight risk.”
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
