Latest news with #JudgeArunSubramanian
ABC News
15 hours ago
- ABC News
What does Diddy's racketeering charge mean? What happens next in his trial?
Jurors in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs have told the New York court they are unable to agree on the most serious charge he's facing. They agreed on four of the five charges against him but, after two days of deliberations, they're still divided on one charge. A jury can only give a verdict on a charge if all 12 jurors agree. Here's what that means for the trial and what we can expect next. The jury is still deliberating on one charge. Prosecutors, Mr Combs's legal team and Judge Arun Subramanian agreed that it was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on every charge. Mr Subramanian told the jury to continue deliberating on the remaining charge. The court has not heard their verdict on the other four charges. Jurors have told the court they have agreed on the trafficking and prostitution charges. But the jurors can't agree on the racketeering conspiracy charge. "We have jurors with unpersuadable opinions on both sides," they said in a note. The racketeering charge is the most serious charge against Mr Combs — it carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. It's a charge under the US Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) The US government introduced this law in 1970 to take down crime gangs — the aim was to tie crime bosses to the offences of those working under them. Here's an explanation of "racketeering" and "conspiracy" in the context of US law: The prosecution accused Mr Combs of using his business, the Combs Enterprise, to violently coerce and blackmail women to perform sex acts, among other criminal acts. The law allows prosecutors to combine related offences that otherwise would have had to be prosecuted separately in different states, the US Department of Justice website explains. It also provides a way for prosecutors to ensure their case "adequately reflects the nature and extent of the criminal conduct involved in a way that prosecution only on the underlying charges would not". And, in this case, it allowed the prosecutors to use evidence they would not have been able to use if Mr Combs was charged only with sex trafficking. "RICO allows you to bring in the bigger picture," former US prosecutor Bobby Taghavi said. "[That includes] his lifestyle, his power, his anger issues, the way people had to obey him — the 360-degree view of his conduct." During the trial, the court heard allegations of separate incidents of abuse and other criminal behaviour, but the law focuses on a broader system of criminal acts. In order to secure a guilty verdict on a RICO charge, prosecutors must show that: Members of a so-called enterprise, or group of people engaged in a common purpose, committed or planned to commit two other crimes in connection with the enterprise within a 10-year period We don't know yet. All we know is that the jury agreed on four charges. But we don't know whether they have found Mr Combs guilty or not guilty of those charges. The jury may be allowed to deliver a partial verdict. A partial verdict means a jury giving a verdict on the charges they did agree on — while a mistrial may be declared for the other charges they didn't agree on. The prosecution would have the option of running a retrial on the charge they couldn't agree on, the Legal Information Institute's website says. It's difficult to predict what the prosecution would do without knowing the jury's verdict on the other charges. If the jury finds Mr Combs not guilty on the other charges, the prosecution might be more inclined to push ahead with a retrial on the racketeering charge. But if the jury finds Mr Combs guilty and the prosecution is satisfied with the length of his jail sentence, it might be less inclined to go for a retrial. The prospect of a retrial would likely be highly distressing to prosecution witnesses who went through the ordeal of having to relive alleged traumatic assaults in such a public setting. No. A person is only sentenced after the jury has delivered a guilty verdict. And, at the moment, we still don't know if the jury has found Mr Combs guilty or not guilty. Mr Combs is currently behind bars because he was denied bail ahead of the trial — not because he's serving a prison sentence. Currently, New York time — which is called Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) — 14 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). So when it's 9am in Sydney, it's 7pm in New York. This means that any major updates from the trial will probably come either very late at night or early in the morning here in Australia.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Diddy' Trial Jury Reaches Partial Verdict on Four Counts, Must Decide on RICO Charge Before Announcement
The jury deliberating in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking and racketeering case told the judge they have a partial verdict, having reached a decision on four of the five charges against the hip-hop mogul, and have been directed to keep deliberating until they can reach a conclusion on the sprawling federal racketeering charge he faces. On Tuesday afternoon just after 4 p.m., Judge Arun Subramanian received a note from the jury that they are stuck on the racketeering element of the case, noting that there are jurors 'with unpersuadable opinions on both sides.' Jurors sent two notes to Subramanian on Monday, with the second seeking clarification regarding what qualifies as drug distribution. This was certainly related to the alleged crimes that the feds say Combs committed and relate to the racketeering conspiracy charge he faces. Their question related to whether it's considered criminal drug distribution if a person receiving an illegal substance had previously asked the alleged distributor for the drug. More from The Hollywood Reporter Warner Music Group to Undergo Layoffs as Part of $300 Million Cost-Savings Plan Sean "Diddy" Combs' Trial Jury Troubles Begin Within One Hour of Deliberations Bob Vylan Addresses Glastonbury Controversy: "We Are Not for the Death of Jews" 'I ask at this time that you keep deliberating,' Judge Subramanian said. He also read to the eight men and four women an excerpt from the jury instructions: 'No juror should surrender his or her conscientious beliefs for the purpose of returning a unanimous verdict.' Despite the fast turnaround on the four counts, which include two counts each of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and transportation for purposes of prostitution, both the prosecution and defense teams agreed that the jury should finish deliberations before the decision on these four counts that the government has charged Combs with is announced. Maurene Comey, the lead prosecutor for the federal government, suggested to Judge Subramanian that an Allen Charge be issued to the jury; this is a special charge to jurors asking that they work to reach a verdict. While some states have banned this practice, it is allowed in federal cases. Lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo encouraged more deliberation, saying that they'd only been discussing the case 'for a day and change.' His defense team was described by The New York Times as having grim looks on their faces when they learned of the quick decision on the sex trafficking and transportation for purposes of prostitution charges. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts contained in an indictment, including sex trafficking and racketeering. He has remained incarcerated without bail in Brooklyn; the disgraced hip-hop icon faces life in prison if found guilty on all charges. During the prosecution's closing arguments last week, Southern District of New York Attorney Christy Slavik said that on the racketeering charges the jury must be unanimous in their voting that Combs knowingly and willfully agreed that he, or a co-conspirator, would commit two acts of racketeering. She said there is evidence of multiple acts committed by Combs and his 'enterprise': drug distribution, kidnapping, an arson attack, bribery, facilitating sex trafficking, facilitating travel for commercial sex (for his girlfriends, Cassandra Ventura, the pseudonymous 'Jane' and several male sex workers), forced labor and covering up crimes. Following the conversation with Judge Subramanian, the jury decided to conclude its deliberations for the day and return on Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET. Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Party in the U.S.A.' to 'Born in the U.S.A.': 20 of America's Most Patriotic (and Un-Patriotic) Musical Offerings Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial but is told to keep deliberating
Sean 'Diddy' Combs participates in "The Four" panel during the FOX Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 4, 2018. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Warning: The following story contains graphic details NEW YORK — The jury in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial said Tuesday that it has reached a verdict on four of five counts against the hip-hop mogul. But the partial decision remained under wraps after jurors were told to keep deliberating because they were stuck on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors, Combs' defense team and Judge Arun Subramanian reasoned that after just two days of deliberations, it was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts. So rather than taking a partial verdict, Subramanian told the jury to continue weighing the remaining charge. Deliberations will continue Wednesday. The developments came late Tuesday afternoon, when the jury sent a note saying it was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge because there were jurors with 'unpersuadable views' on both sides. But in less than 13 hours of deliberations, the jury did reach a verdict on two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The latter concerns allegations of arranging to fly the women and sex workers across state lines. If there is a conviction, the sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The outstanding charge, racketeering conspiracy, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. After hearing about the jury note, Combs, 55, appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point, the hip-hop mogul solemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him. After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day. Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, 'Love you' and 'I'll be all right.' Marshals then led him from the room. Jurors are weighing charges that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to force two girlfriends into drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers known as 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights.' He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers contend prosecutors are trying to criminalize Combs' swinger lifestyle and that, if anything, his conduct amounted to domestic violence, not federal felonies. Racketeering conspiracy is the most complicated charge because it requires the jury to decide not only whether Combs ran a 'racketeering enterprise,' but also whether he was involved in committing such offenses as some or all of various types of offenses, such as kidnapping and arson. Earlier Tuesday, the jury asked to review critical testimony from one of the prosecution's most important witnesses: the hip-hop mogul's former longtime girlfriend Cassie, the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura. The panel of eight men and four women asked for Cassie's account of Combs beating, kicking and dragging her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 -- an assault captured on now-infamous security camera footage. They also asked to see Cassie's testimony about when she said Combs accused her of taking drugs from him and kicked her off their yacht at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2013. On their way back to the U.S., she said, he threatened to release explicit videos of her having sex. In addition, the jury asked for Cassie and stripper Daniel Phillip's testimony about her jumping into his lap at a New York City hotel. Phillip testified that 'she was terrified,' and he suspected Combs had been slapping and slamming her around an adjacent room. Phillip testified that he told her she was in real danger. Cassie, he said, 'basically tried to convince me that it was OK: `It's OK. I'm fine, I'll be OK.'' Tuesday's court session began with the lawyers and judge considering the jury's request late Monday for clarification about what qualifies as drug distribution, an aspect of the racketeering conspiracy charge. Subramanian ultimately reminded jurors of instructions he'd already given on that part of the case. On Monday, barely an hour into deliberations, the foreperson sent a note complaining that there was one juror 'who we are concerned cannot follow your Honor's instructions.' In response, the judge reminded jurors of their duties to deliberate and follow his instructions on the law. At the trial, Combs chose not to testify. His lawyers built their arguments for acquittal mostly through lengthy cross-examinations of dozens of prosecution witnesses. By Michael R. Sisak, Larry Neumeister And Jennifer Peltz.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Sean "Diddy' Combs court case in photos
The jury in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial has reached a verdict on four of five charges but remains deadlocked on the most serious charge: racketeering conspiracy. Despite the jury's note about being split with 'unpersuadable views,' Judge Arun Subramanian instructed them to continue deliberating. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Bloomberg
Sean Combs Jurors Say They've Reached Verdict on Four Counts
Jurors in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs case told the judge they reached a verdict on sex trafficking and prostitution charges but were divided on a lone racketeering charge. Both the defense and the government asked Judge Arun Subramanian to tell the 12-person jury to continue deliberating.
