Famous American hip-hop star Sean Combs, known by the stage name P. Diddy, was eventually acquitted of the charges of human trafficking and gang formation, the two most important he faced, but was found guilty of transporting persons for the purpose of prostitution.
HDN Newsroom
After several weeks of testimony and harsh speeches, in a trial held under the spotlight in New York, the 12 jurors began deliberating on Monday and reached a unanimous verdict on four of the five charges the next day.
The Verdict
P . Diddy was found not guilty of the charge of criminal organization, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment. The jury found him guilty of two counts of transporting persons from one state to another for the purpose of prostitution, which is prohibited under U.S. law.
"You listened, you cooperated, you were here every day, rain or shine. You did it without any compensation other than to serve the common good. That gives us all hope," Judge Arun Subramanian told the jury, who is now set to rule on the rapper's sentence.
As soon as the verdict was announced, his lawyer Sean Combs asked for his client to be released on parole, after he was acquitted of the most serious of the charges. A little earlier, Cobbs himself had prayed inside the courthouse, looking at members of his family. "God, please, take care of my family," he said.
Diddy was accused of coercing women — including singer Cassie, his partner between 2007 and 2018 — to participate in marathon sex parties with male escorts while he was watching or filming. He also allegedly organized a criminal network, which he himself led, to organize these parties. The so-called "freak-offs".
The 55-year-old P.Diddy made a career as a music producer, rapper and entrepreneur. He emerged several singers in the 1990s and became famous himself under the pseudonym Puff Daddy, with the album "No Way Out".
In 2023, his ex-partner, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit against him claiming that he raped her in 2018 and that he had "violent" and "deviant" behavior towards her for a decade, such as forcing her to have sex with male escorts. The case was resolved "amicably" within 24 hours, but other complaints against the rapper followed, leading to this trial in Manhattan.
During the trial, his lawyers went to great lengths to challenge the witnesses and tried to show that their client was following a "polygamous" lifestyle, which is not prohibited by criminal law.
Cassie and another woman, who testified anonymously, admitted that they had a "loving relationship" with Combs, but claimed that at the same time they received threats that it would damage their image, their financial situation and their physical integrity.
The jury saw videos of the sex parties, as well as footage from the security cameras of a Los Angeles hotel, in which Cobbs dragged Cassie to the floor and beat her.
Videos of such encounters — known as "freak offs" — were presented to jurors during the seven-day trial. This material was not shown to the public or to the media.
Former employees, escorts, hotel staff and police officers were among the witnesses who testified.
Also testifying at the trial were one of the victims, Cassie Ventura, the ex-partner of "Diddy," a singer and model, who was pregnant during the trial, as well as another former partner who testified under the pseudonym Jane.
The two women told the court that they were forced to participate in sexual with escorts, under the influence of drugs - also called "hotel nights" or "wild king's nights" - and suffered abuse throughout their relationships with "Diddy".
Diddy's advocacy team presented a completely different picture, trying to convince that all actions — even "freak offs" — were consensual.
They acknowledged that the defendant had violent flare-ups, bad behavior and used drugs. He also had multiple relationships at once. But as they argued, although he was not proud of his behavior, none of this evidence makes him guilty of the specific charges.
After presenting evidence of flights, travel, and hotel reservations in the U.S. and the Caribbean — all paid for by "Diddy" — the jury found him guilty of transporting people for the purpose of prostitution. However, they agreed with the defense that the allegations of sex trafficking and membership of a criminal organization are not true.
"The defendant "crossed the boundaries so much that he could no longer distinguish them and felt that no one could touch him," Prosecutor Maureen Comey said. But he is not God," she said, addressing the jury and asking them to find him guilty of all charges.
After the verdict was announced and after the jury left, Cobbs knelt in front of his chair, as if he were praying. He then stood up and spoke to the audience. "I'll be back home soon. I love you. Thank you," he said, smiling.
His family and supporters erupted in applause and cheers.
For the two charges of which he was found guilty, Cobbs can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. Judge Arun Subramanian will announce the sentence at a date yet to be announced.
Combs has been held in Brooklyn federal prison since September 2024, after his arrest.
The jury concluded that Sean "Diddy" Combs is:
Not guilty of Charge 1: Conspiracy to Extort
Not Charged with Charge 2: Sex-trafficking of Cassie Ventura
Guilty of Charge 3: Transportation for Prostitution of Cassie and Others
Not Charged with Charge 4: Sex-trafficking of Jane*
Guilty of Charge 5: Transportation for Prostitution of Jane and Others
The 55-year-old hip hop mogul was facing charges of abusing and coercing three people, as well as other crimes, including kidnapping, arson and extortion.
"Diddy" now faces up to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of transporting male escorts for sexual encounters with his ex-partners.
