Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking trial have reached a full verdict Wednesday that could land the music titan in prison for life if he is convicted of the most serious charges.
The announcement comes on the third day of deliberations in a seven-week trial after the jury said Tuesday it agreed on four of five counts except on the one count of racketeering conspiracy.
The U.S. government accused the Bad Boy Records founder of leveraging his power, wealth and influence as the head of a “criminal enterprise” to sexually abuse and exploit women for his own gratification over two decades.
Sign up for the “Diddy on Trial” newsletter for key developments and analysis
The disgraced music mogul pleaded not guilty and has vigorously denied the allegations.
His defense pitched to jurors that the case against Combs was “badly exaggerated,” and that he was simply on trial for a “swingers” lifestyle — one tinged with violent behavior and included supplies of drugs and baby oil — that was ultimately consensual.
The dueling depictions cast a far different image of the Harlem-born hitmaker, who once ruled the hip-hop and R&B charts, was a fixture in celebrity circles and propelled his exuberant personality, lavish lifestyle and business pursuits, including in reality television and fashion, into a global entrepreneur and brand ambassador.
The jury of 12 New Yorkers — eight men and four women — were tasked with weighing multiple charges against the 55-year-old Combs:
- one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
- two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
- two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The trial heard from almost three dozen government witnesses, from former personal assistants to stylists to label artists, some willingly testifying against Combs, while others were granted immunity in exchange for their testimony.
Three women, including Combs’ former girlfriend R&B singer Cassie, were central figures in the case, as they provided graphic testimony of allegations of sexual assault and violence or threats of blackmail.
Combs’ lawyers called no witnesses of their own and the defendant himself decided not to testify, as much of the defense’s case was laid out during lengthy cross-examinations of government witnesses.
The high-profile trial at a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan was not televised. The main courtroom was routinely packed, as Combs’ mother and six adult children regularly showed up in support, with Combs — often in a sweater and khakis — mouthing, “I love you” or forming his hands in a heart shape.
On the racketeering conspiracy charge, a jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant was involved in an enterprise among two or more people to engage in at least two criminal acts affecting interstate commerce — offenses that may include kidnapping, arson, bribery, forced labor, sex trafficking and other underlying crimes.
For the standalone sex trafficking charge, prosecutors must demonstrate the defendant by force or threat compelled others to commit commercial sex acts in which something of value, such as money, was received.
Coverage of the ‘Diddy’ trial
During her nearly five-hour closing argument, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik reminded the jury about various government witnesses who testified about the alleged crimes. She said an ex-assistant of Combs, Capricorn Clark, was subjected to kidnapping and forced labor, while a romantic rival of Combs, the rapper Kid Cudi, had his car firebombed in an act of arson.
A former assistant who testified under the pseudonym “Mia” and accused Combs of sexually assaulting her multiple times was another example of forced labor, Slavik said.
On the two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, Slavik told jurors that they did not need to believe Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, or another ex-girlfriend, who testified under “Jane,” were engaged in sex acts against their will in every instance.
The women testified to freak offs and “hotel nights,” which were the names for drug-induced sexual encounters with male escorts they said Combs routinely manipulated them into — otherwise, recorded videos of the explicit sex acts could be shared with others. (Jurors and Combs were played clips from the videos as part of the prosecution’s evidence, but they were not shown to the full courtroom.)
“So, if there was one time, one single freak off, when the defendant knew or recklessly disregarded that Cassie or Jane was participating because of his lies, his threats or his violence, then that’s it,” Slavik said, “he’s guilty.”
Combs’ defense team maintained that he operated a legitimate business and was being unfairly targeted by overzealous prosecutors.
“Sean Combs has become something that is very, very hard to become, very hard to be,” lead defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in his four-hour closing arguments. “He is a self-made successful Black entrepreneur.”
While Agnifilo didn’t deny Combs was consumed by bouts of jealousy and engaged in angry tirades that involved domestic violence, the women, ultimately, chose to stay with him, while those in his inner circle had the agency to leave, he said.
“If racketeering conspiracy had an opposite, it would be their relationship,” Agnifilo said of Combs and Ventura, who dated on and off from about 2007 to 2018.
One key piece of evidence played for the jury repeatedly and frame by frame was security footage showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. She testified that he was angered because she was attempting to leave a freak off.
“We own the domestic violence. We own it. I hope you guys know this,” Agnifilo told the jury, while denying Combs was a mastermind who conspired with his employees to commit crimes.
“If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn’t all be here having a trial because he would have pled guilty because he did that,” Agnifilo said. “He did not do the things he’s charged with.”
Combs has been held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest last fall.
No matter the outcome of the criminal case, Combs must contend with a slew of lawsuits that have included accusations of rape and sexual assault. Combs, who has denied such allegations, has accused various plaintiffs of pursuing quick “paydays.”
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Leave a Reply