Diddy Cleared of Sex Trafficking and Racketeering, Found Guilty of Prostitution-Related Charges

Sean "Diddy" Combs has been found guilty on two federal charges of transporting women for prostitution, but was acquitted of the more serious accusations of racketeering and sex trafficking. The verdict follows a dramatic two-month trial in New York that gripped the public with testimonies of alleged abuse, coercion, and extravagant sexual conduct.

In a partial victory for his defense team, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was today acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges but found guilty of transporting two women—his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and an anonymous woman known as “Jane”—for the purpose of prostitution.

The jury’s decision followed nearly 13 hours of deliberation over three days and ended one of the most high-profile celebrity criminal trials in years.

The verdict leaves Combs facing up to 20 years in federal prison—10 years for each guilty count—though the final sentence will be determined at a future hearing.

Verdicts Summary

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• Count 1 – Racketeering Conspiracy: Not guilty
• Count 2 – Sex Trafficking of Cassie Ventura: Not guilty
• Count 3 – Transportation for Prostitution (Ventura and others): Guilty
• Count 4 – Sex Trafficking of "Jane": Not guilty
• Count 5 – Transportation for Prostitution ("Jane" and others): Guilty

Inside the Courtroom

When the not guilty verdicts were read on the most serious charges, Combs visibly broke down. He clasped his hands in prayer, looked repeatedly at the jury, and nodded to his family, some of whom cried openly.

His lawyer, Teny Geragos, was seen wiping tears from her eyes.

But the emotional relief was tempered by the two guilty verdicts. These stemmed from explosive testimony by both Ventura and “Jane,” who alleged that Combs orchestrated "freak-off" sessions involving male escorts and coercive sex acts in hotel rooms across state lines.

Despite being cleared of sex trafficking—a charge requiring proof of coercion or force—the jury concluded that Combs had knowingly arranged travel for women to engage in prostitution.

Following the verdict, Combs’ lead attorney Marc Agnifilo immediately urged Judge Arun Subramanian to release his client on a $1 million bond, arguing that the acquittals on the most serious counts showed the jury believed Combs posed no ongoing threat.

“He would be nothing short of a fool to violate any court condition,” Agnifilo said. He also noted this was Combs’ first criminal conviction and said the entertainer planned to return home to Florida if granted bail.

But federal prosecutor Maurene Comey opposed any release, arguing that Combs remained a danger to the community and had committed “a litany of crimes” while under federal investigation, including violence and drug use.

“He flagrantly disregarded the law before,” she told the court. “We have no reason to believe he won’t do so again.”

Judge Subramanian has not yet ruled on the bail application.

The Charges in Detail

The charges Combs was found guilty of—transportation to engage in prostitution—are federal offenses under the Mann Act, a law that criminalizes transporting individuals across state lines for sex work or immoral purposes.

The prosecution presented evidence that Combs arranged interstate travel for sexual encounters under the guise of “hotel nights,” during which he would allegedly watch, direct, or film Ventura and Jane engaging in sex acts with hired escorts.

These events were described in detail by multiple witnesses, including former employees and one of the male escorts.

While not rising to the level of coercion required for a trafficking conviction, the jury found that the prosecution had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the encounters constituted prostitution and that Combs knowingly facilitated them.

What Happens Next

Combs has been held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September 2024. Whether he remains there pending sentencing depends on Judge Subramanian’s decision in the coming days.

The sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled, but prosecutors have indicated they will seek the full 20-year sentence allowed under federal law.

Defense attorneys will likely argue for leniency, citing Combs’ lack of prior convictions and his public acquittal on the most stigmatizing charges.

While Combs avoided conviction on the most damning accusations—sex trafficking and running a criminal enterprise—the guilty verdicts on prostitution-related charges still strike a serious blow to his image and career.

Known for his sprawling music empire and ventures in fashion, alcohol, and entertainment, Combs’ public downfall mirrors a broader reckoning in the entertainment industry over abuse, consent, and power.

Whether his name can recover from the stain of this verdict remains to be seen. For now, Combs awaits his sentencing, and the public waits to see how justice will be measured in a case that blurred the lines between celebrity, exploitation, and criminal accountability.