Jury Convicts Diddy on Mann Act Counts, Clears Him of Sex Trafficking

A federal jury in New York on Wednesday found Sean “Diddy” Combs guilty of two felony violations of the Mann Act for transporting people across state lines for prostitution, but cleared the hip-hop mogul of the more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking counts that could have carried a life sentence.

The panel—eight men and four women—deliberated for roughly 13 hours over three days before delivering the split verdict. Combs, 55, who has been held without bail since his September arrest, faces a maximum of about 10 years in prison on the Mann Act convictions. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said he will rule later on whether Combs may be released pending sentencing.

Prosecutors alleged Combs used his wealth and influence to coerce girlfriends, including singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, into drug-fueled sexual encounters with paid male sex workers. Jurors heard testimony from 34 witnesses, among them rapper Kid Cudi, and viewed video of Combs assaulting Ventura. The defense argued the relationships were consensual and accused the government of intruding into Combs’s private life.

The verdict is likely to imperil Combs’s decades-long career as a music producer and entrepreneur even as he avoided the most severe charges. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.