After a high-profile federal trial that captivated the entertainment world and drew harrowing testimony from former associates and ex-partners, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, but guilty of two lesser counts related to transporting individuals for prostitution.
The partial verdict, delivered on the third day of jury deliberations, marks a dramatic fall for the 55-year-old hip-hop titan, whose decades-long career helped shape modern rap, R&B, and pop culture.
Combs now faces up to 10 years in prison for the two counts of unlawful transportation, with sentencing yet to be scheduled.
Jurors cleared Combs of racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge, which could have carried a life sentence, as well as two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion—charges that stemmed from shocking allegations made by three women, including former girlfriend and singer Cassie Ventura.
But he was convicted on two federal counts of transporting individuals across state lines to engage in prostitution, charges that, while less severe, still carry significant legal weight and a maximum decade-long prison sentence.
Over a seven-week trial, the jury heard from nearly three dozen witnesses, many of whom were former insiders—assistants, stylists, and artists—some testifying willingly, while others testified under immunity deals. They described a world shaped by Combs’ wealth and influence, filled with drug-fueled sex parties—referred to as “freak offs”—where women allegedly participated under coercion or fear of retaliation.
Central to the prosecution’s case were Ventura and another woman referred to only as “Jane.” Both detailed years of alleged sexual abuse, manipulation, and threats. Jurors were even shown video clips of the so-called “freak offs,” which prosecutors argued demonstrated Combs’ control and intent.
Prosecutors claimed Combs ran a “criminal enterprise” that used his music empire as a front to facilitate abuse. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik, during a five-hour closing argument, painted Combs as a man whose violent jealousy and need for control spilled into systematic exploitation. She cited alleged acts of kidnapping, forced labor, and even arson, including an accusation that a romantic rival, rapper Kid Cudi, had his car firebombed.
Combs’ legal team, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, didn’t dispute his volatile behavior or history of domestic violence. Instead, they argued that the government’s case exaggerated a consensual, though unconventional, lifestyle, not a criminal conspiracy.
“This is not racketeering. This is not a criminal enterprise,” Agnifilo said, arguing that Combs was being unfairly targeted as a prominent and successful Black entrepreneur. He insisted the relationships with women like Cassie were complicated, yes, but not criminal.
In perhaps the most emotionally raw moment of the defense’s closing, Agnifilo acknowledged the 2016 hotel hallway assault—a security video showing Combs attacking Ventura as she tried to leave a “freak off.”
“We own the domestic violence,” he told the jury. “If he was charged with that, he would have pled guilty. But that’s not what this trial is about.”
Combs did not testify in his own defense, and his team called no witnesses, instead relying on aggressive cross-examinations to poke holes in the government’s narrative.
While Combs avoided convictions on the most damaging charges, the verdict still delivers a major blow to a man once seen as untouchable. Once the face of Bad Boy Records and a fixture in fashion, television, and celebrity circles, Combs now faces serious prison time and more legal battles ahead.
He has been held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest last fall. Meanwhile, a wave of civil lawsuits accusing him of rape, sexual assault, and abuse continues to mount. Combs has denied all allegations and claims the lawsuits are opportunistic cash grabs.
