Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Diddy Trial: Jury Verdict. Combs Guilty on Two Counts



10:21 AM UPDATE: as deliberations concluded on July 2, 2025. 

The jury found Combs:
  • Count 1 (Racketeering Conspiracy): Not guilty.
  • Count 2 (Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion of Casandra Ventura): Not guilty.
  • Count 3 (Transportation to Engage in Prostitution of Casandra Ventura): Guilty.
  • Count 4 (Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion of Jane): Not guilty.
  • Count 5 (Transportation to Engage in Prostitution of Jane): Guilty


Earlier.....

10 AM UPDATE:  Jurors reached a final verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex-trafficking trial Wednesday in Manhattan.

They agreed to a verdict on four of the five charges Tuesday against the disgraced hip-hop mogul.

Diddy, 55, is accused of using his fame and fortune to run a decade-long criminal enterprise in which he controlled and manipulated his longtime girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, 38, and others using violence and threats — forcing them into acting out his sick, twisted fantasies with drug-fueled “freak-off” sex marathons that went on for days.

The rapper has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Earlier Story...


The jury in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan Tuesday reached a partial verdict after approximately 12 to 13 hours of deliberation over two days. They announced unanimous decisions on counts 2, 3, 4, and 5, which include two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, related to Combs’ ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and another woman identified as "Jane."

 

However, the jury remains deadlocked on count 1, the racketeering conspiracy charge under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), citing "unpersuadable opinions on both sides" regarding whether Combs ran a criminal enterprise.

The RICO charge, the most complex and serious, carries a potential life sentence and requires proving Combs knowingly joined a criminal conspiracy and committed at least two predicate acts, such as bribery, drug distribution, kidnapping, arson, or sex trafficking. The jury’s note at 4:05 p.m. ET indicated their inability to agree on this count, prompting Judge Arun Subramanian to instruct them to continue deliberating without accepting the partial verdict, a decision supported by both prosecution and defense.


 
Deliberations were adjourned for the day, with the jury set to resume on Wednesday, July 2, at 9 a.m. ET.

The partial verdict on the other four counts remains undisclosed until a final resolution is reached, as the decisions are not final and could change during ongoing deliberations. The trial, which began on May 12, 2025, featured 34 prosecution witnesses, including Ventura and a male escort, Daniel Phillip, whose testimonies focused on alleged violence and "freak-off" encounters—drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances allegedly orchestrated by Combs. Notable evidence included 2016 hotel security footage showing Combs assaulting Ventura. The defense, which called no witnesses, argued that all sexual encounters were consensual, framing them as part of a "swingers lifestyle" and denying the existence of a criminal enterprise.

The deadlock on the RICO charge reflects its complexity, as it requires agreement on both the existence of a criminal enterprise and Combs’ involvement in multiple criminal acts, unlike the more straightforward sex trafficking and prostitution charges. Legal analysts note that the RICO charge’s broad scope, often used against organized crime, makes it challenging for jurors to reach consensus. If the deadlock persists, the prosecution may retry Combs on the RICO charge.

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