‘Diddy’ Acquitted On Sex-Trafficking, Racketeering Counts, Found Guilty On Mann Act Charges
Sean "Diddy" Combs was convicted of a US federal prostitution felony but acquitted on far more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. The jury found the music mogul guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
After seven weeks of intense proceedings, a Manhattan federal jury has reached a verdict in the widely followed sex trafficking and racketeering case against hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Combs was convicted on charges of violating the Mann Act for transporting former partners Cassie Ventura and another woman identified as “Jane” across state lines. However, he was acquitted of running a criminal enterprise and two counts of sex trafficking.
‘Diddy’ Accused of Orchestrating ‘Freak-Offs’
According to The Guardian, federal prosecutors argued throughout the trial that Combs used his music empire as a cover for a criminal enterprise spanning two decades, enlisting associates to aid in crimes such as sex trafficking, drug distribution, bribery, and kidnapping. Prosecutors alleged Combs coerced women, including Ventura and Jane, into drug-fuelled, multi-day sex parties referred to as “freak-offs”, leveraging threats, violence, and financial control.
Prosecutors supported their case with text messages, videos, and financial records and called 34 witnesses, including former girlfriends, employees, hotel staff, and federal agents. Two male escorts corroborated Ventura and Jane’s testimony, stating Combs orchestrated the events and sometimes filmed them.
Diddy Trial: Graphic Testimonies From Ventura and Jane
Ventura, who was eight months pregnant when she testified, described a relationship marked by abuse and manipulation. She accused Combs of physical violence, rape after their 2018 breakup, and threats to derail her music career or release explicit videos if she refused his demands. Ventura told the court she used drugs supplied by Combs to “dissociate” during the forced sexual encounters, The Guardian reported.
Jane recounted feeling compelled to take part in the “freak-offs”, especially after Combs began paying her rent. She testified that Combs used the payments as leverage, threatening to release compromising videos if she resisted participating. Jane said she was left with a black eye after a 2024 altercation with Combs.
Combs’s defence argued the relationships were consensual, citing affectionate text messages, including some where Jane helped organise the encounters herself.
Diddy Trial: Witnesses Describe Pattern of Abuse and Intimidation
Supporting Ventura’s account, multiple witnesses testified to Combs’s abusive behaviour. Singer Dawn Richard, Ventura’s friends, and former Combs employees described seeing physical assaults. A celebrity stylist recounted Ventura expressing hesitation about the “freak-offs” and hearing Combs threaten her career.
Ventura’s mother said she took out a home equity loan after alleged blackmail by Combs, although the money was later returned. Jurors also viewed 2016 hotel surveillance showing Combs kicking and dragging Ventura; a security guard testified Combs paid $100,000 to suppress the footage, as per The Guardian's report.
Former assistant “Mia” claimed Combs sexually and physically assaulted her multiple times. Rapper Scott Mescudi, known as Kid Cudi, testified Combs broke into his home upon learning he was dating Ventura; Mescudi’s car was later firebombed, which he suspects was Combs’s doing, though Combs denied involvement. Capricorn Clark, another ex-employee, alleged Combs kidnapped her at gunpoint and forced her to accompany him to Mescudi’s home, though the defence questioned her credibility since she continued working for Combs afterwards.
Six former assistants, some granted immunity, described tasks such as stocking hotel rooms with condoms, lubricants, and drugs, and cleaning up afterward. A federal agent said unregistered firearms, narcotics, and large amounts of baby oil were seized from Combs’s properties during raids, the report stated.
The defence did not call any witnesses but submitted evidence and relied on extensive cross-examinations to challenge the credibility of prosecution witnesses. Combs, who did not testify, was an active presence in the courtroom, and at one point was warned by the judge for “nodding vigorously” at jurors, as per the report.
As the trial attracted global attention, celebrities weighed in. Rapper 50 Cent criticised Combs online, while rapper Ye (Kanye West) attended court in support and released a song with Combs’s son titled Diddy Free during closing arguments. When former US President Donald Trump was asked whether he would consider a pardon if Combs were convicted, he replied he would need to “look at the facts” since he had not been following the case closely.
The Guardian noted that beyond the criminal trial, Combs faces over 30 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault, which he denies.
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