A federal jury in New York on 2 July found Sean “Diddy” Combs guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution while acquitting him of racketeering conspiracy and two sex-trafficking charges. The split verdict followed three days of deliberations at the end of an eight-week trial that examined allegations spanning nearly a decade.
The convictions under the Mann Act each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, leaving Combs facing up to 20 years in prison rather than the potential life term tied to the charges he defeated. The music executive, detained since his September 2024 arrest, knelt in apparent prayer as the decision was read. His legal team asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to free him on a US$1 million bond while a sentencing date is set.
Cassie Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor, said her 2023 civil lawsuit 'paved the way' for the guilty findings and pledged to continue pursuing civil claims for other accusers. Women’s-rights groups criticised the acquittals on the more serious counts, calling them evidence of systemic gaps in protecting survivors.
Reaction from the entertainment industry was swift. Rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, a long-time antagonist of Combs, mocked the outcome on social media, dubbing Combs the 'Gay John Gotti' for beating the racketeering charge. Rosie O’Donnell, Aubrey O’Day and other public figures also weighed in, underscoring the cultural resonance of the high-profile case.