American music star Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found guilty of prostitution-related charges but cleared of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering accusations after a seven-week trial in New York.
The jury, made up of eight men and four women, gave the verdict on Wednesday after three days of deliberation. Diddy was convicted of two counts of transporting women for prostitution, each carrying up to 10 years in prison. He was, however, acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Diddy, 55, smiled and appeared relieved when the verdict was read. He shook hands with one of his lawyers and thanked the jury members as they exited the courtroom.
“You listened, you worked together, you were here every day, rain or shine,” said Judge Arun Subramanian, thanking the jurors before dismissing them.
The prosecution had claimed Combs led a criminal network for years, using his staff and bodyguards to commit serious crimes like bribery, arson, forced labour, and witness tampering.
To prove the racketeering charge, the jury needed to find that Combs was leading an organised group and that they committed at least two crimes together. But after much debate, the jury said they were deadlocked on that charge, and the judge asked them to continue before the final not guilty verdict was reached.
Two women, singer Casandra Ventura and another who used the name Jane, testified against Combs. They described years of abuse, saying they were pressured into taking part in group sex acts arranged by him.
Combs’s lawyers argued that the relationships were troubled but the sex was always consensual. They pointed out that the evidence, including a widely shared video showing Combs hitting Ventura, was disturbing but didn’t prove sex trafficking.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey, during closing arguments, told the jury that Combs believed he could do anything and not be punished. “In his mind, he was untouchable,” she said. “The defendant never thought that the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done to them.”
Combs had denied all charges from the start of the case. The court will set a sentencing date in the coming weeks.
