Sean ‘Diddy' Combs Verdict: Here's Why He May Have Escaped Most Serious Charges

Forbes

3 days ago

A jury found music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution Wednesday morning, but he escaped his more serious criminal charges, which a legal expert said could be because the prosecution failed to convince jurors Combs forced or coerced his former girlfriends into commercial sex acts.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal criminal trial stretched for nearly two months, with dozens of witnesses ... More called to the stand. (Photo byfor Sean "Diddy" Combs) Getty Images for Sean "Diddy" Combs
Combs faced five federal charges, pleading not guilty to all: one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, on which the jury acquitted him, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, for which a jury found him guilty.
The jury acquitted Combs of the most serious charges against him, as both the racketeering and sex trafficking charges could have carried life sentences, while the transportation to engage in prostitution charges could land him in prison for two decades.
Jurors deliberated for more than 13 hours, and the verdict came quickly Wednesday morning, as jurors sent a note to Subramanian at 9:52 a.m. EDT stating they had come to a unanimous decision on all five counts.
Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow told Forbes avoiding conviction on the most serious charges was 'positive' for Combs because he dodged the possibility of life in prison.
Combs' trial surrounded the 'issue of whether Cassie Ventura and 'Jane' consented to engage in these sexual acts, and the jury has clearly said there was not evidence beyond a reasonable doubt of force, fraud or coercion,' Chutkow said, citing the elements required to prove a sex trafficking charge.
Chutkow said the defense 'did a good job of showing these women continued to have a relationship' with Combs and expressed 'affection for him and a desire to engage in' the 'freak-off' performances that were central to the case, citing text exchanges defense lawyers presented to argue Combs' sexual encounters with his former girlfriends were consensual.
Chutkow said jurors may have questioned whether Combs' activities rose to the level of running a 'criminal enterprise' as outlined in the racketeering conspiracy statute, stating jurors may have questioned who his co-conspirators were, as Combs was the only person on trial.
Yes, Combs could still face prison time for his convictions on the transportation to engage in prostitution charges, though he escaped the possibility of life in prison with his acquittals on the other charges. Each conviction on the prostitution offenses carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and prosecutor Maurene Comey said shortly after the conviction the government intends to pursue a sentence of 20 years in prison for Combs, CNN reported. Chutkow said he would be 'surprised' if Combs was sentenced to the maximum number of years in prison, stating the judge would consider that Combs was acquitted by the jury on the most serious charges. What To Watch For
Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest, though his attorneys are pushing for his release. Subramanian told both defense lawyers and prosecutors to write letters arguing their positions on whether Combs should be released on bail, the Associated Press reported, and he adjourned court until the afternoon.
Combs appeared to celebrate the verdict in the courtroom, pumping his fist in the air and hugging his defense lawyer Teny Geragos once the verdict was read, multiple outlets reported. Combs' lawyers appeared 'absolutely ecstatic' following the verdict, the New York Times reported. After the verdict was read, Combs turned to his family and mouthed, 'I'm going home.' Outside the courtroom, supporters cheered 'Free Puff!' the Associated Press reported. What Charges Was Diddy Convicted On?
One of the transportation to engage in prostitution charges Combs was convicted on related to Cassie Ventura, his ex-girlfriend who was a key witness to the government's case against him. The other prostitution count concerned ex-girlfriend 'Jane,' who took the witness stand under a pseudonym. Transportation to engage in prostitution is illegal under the federal Mann Act, and prosecutors made their case that Combs had transported his former girlfriends and male sex workers across state lines to engage in 'freak off' or 'hotel night' sex performances. How Did Cassie React To The Verdict?
Ventura's lawyer Douglas H. Wigdor said in a statement following the verdict her courage to file a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, which kicked off a barrage of civil suits filed against Combs alleging crimes like sexual assault and sex trafficking, made his eventual conviction possible. 'Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in,' Wigdor said, according to the Associated Press.