Hip-hop impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs defeated the heaviest charges laid against him. On Wednesday, 2 July 2025, a federal jury in New York cleared the music icon of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. These two charges carried the possibility of life imprisonment. But in a sweet and sour victory for his defense team, Diddy was still convicted of two charges in connection with the federal Mann Act. Jurors found him guilty of six counts of using an interstate facility to carry on an unlawful activity, namely, the transportation of two women, including singer Cassie Ventura and another woman who was referred to as only "Jane," across state lines to engage in prostitution.
After three days of deliberations and more than 12 hours of argument, the jury delivered a mixed verdict, which, while not devoid of good news for Diddy, carries significant implications. He could now spend up to 20 years behind bars, 10 years for each count under the Mann Act.
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Diddy didn't take the stand in his defense, but the prosecution put on testimony from 34 witnesses. Following the verdict, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York released a stinging statement, emphasizing the broader context in which the trial unfolded.
"Victims of sex crimes are gravely wounded and desecrated, and the disgusting truth is that sex crimes occur with regularity inside and outside of our communities," prosecutors said. "The victims suffer gut-wrenching physical and psychological abuse, and for most, the effects last a lifetime. The scourge and perpetrators are major concerns for New Yorkers, but so is bringing the scourge to an end and the perpetrators to justice for all Americans."
"Prosecuting sex crimes takes the courage of brave victims to come forward and tell their story of abuse," the prosecutors said. "Our law enforcement partners and I acknowledge the terrible suffering that the victims endure and we have focused on a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases."
Federal officials also commended the work of the SDNY's Civil Rights Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, and the NYPD for their combined efforts in piecing together the case.
For Diddy, 55, who managed to escape a life sentence, the convictions could have significant reverberations throughout his empire, affecting his musical legacy, business interests, and media influence. He is now seeking release while awaiting sentencing, for which a date has not been scheduled, on a $1 million bond. The hip-hop industry might be breathing a sigh of relief over the RICO acquittal, but make no mistake: that legal spotlight on Diddy is still shining ever so fiercely.
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