Which charges does Sean 'Diddy' Combs face – and could he go to prison?
Combs, whose label Bad Boy Records anointed him a king-maker in the world of hip-hop, was toppled from on high in September, when authorities arrested him on federal charges, alleging he was helping run a criminal sex trafficking operation.
Combs also faces a torrent of civil suits painting the music mogul as a longtime abuser. Many of the civil cases came after a quickly-settled lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine − who alleged Combs raped and assaulted her. Ventura Fine was one of the prosecution's star witnesses in Combs' federal trial.
Now, as the music mogul awaits a verdict behind bars, here's a look at the charges he faces.
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What federal charges does Diddy face?
Combs is charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering.
Federal authorities claim Combs turned his "multi-faceted business empire" into a "criminal enterprise" in which he and his associates engaged in kidnapping, arson and physical violence, sex trafficking and forced labor, among other alleged crimes.
Diddy faces same charge that brought down mob bosses. What is racketeering?
A superseding indictment filed April 3 – the third revised indictment following an amended indictment in January and a superseding indictment in March – added two additional counts to the three from his original charging: one of sex trafficking and one of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors probed Combs' former employees and romantic partners on how he facilitated "freak offs," the dayslong sex parties at the center of the case. The line of questioning, which looped in the purchase of flights, drugs and copious amounts of baby oil, was aimed at showing that Combs' behavior amounted to criminal conspiracy. Lawyers for the music mogul contested that argument, painting him as a swinger whose sexual proclivities and drug-fueled lifestyle should not be on trial.
What is racketeering?
Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO. It has historically been used against gangs as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute multi-member organizations that contribute to criminal activity.
Prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs."
When dismissed for deliberations, Judge Arun Subramanian advised jurors that the racketeering charge in this case has eight elements: kidnapping, arson, bribery, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, sex trafficking, witness tampering, forced labor and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. In order for them to find Combs guilty of this particular charge, the jury needs only to agree that he is responsible for two of the eight elements, the judge said.
What civil cases does Diddy face?
The federal charges against Combs echo some of the allegations in the more than 70 civil lawsuits filed against him.
The claims of sexual abuse, drugging and physical assault span three decades, and include the lawsuit filed by Ventura Fine in November 2023 through to the most recent suit in June.
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Could Sean Combs go to prison?
Yes.
If convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs could face life in prison, while the statutory minimum sentence for sex trafficking is 15 years and for transportation to engage in prostitution is a maximum of 10 years. A mixed verdict – convicted on some, but not all charges – could add up to any number of years.
Is Diddy in jail?
The disgraced music mogul is already in custody, and, despite repeated attempts at bail, has remained confined to the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. He has been in jail since his arrest on Sept. 16, 2024, but was allowed to sit in on his trial, and given clothing other than the typical orange jumpsuit while the proceedings went on.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Gina Barton, Aysha Bagchi, Josh Meyer, KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra, Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
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