Scorecard Research Beacon
Search Icon
Culture July 2, 2025

Hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted on most serious charges in historic racketeering case

WATCH: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs denied bail after split verdict, sentencing set for October

In a split verdict, hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs was found guilty of two of the five charges he faced but was acquitted of the most serious charge, racketeering conspiracy, capping a high-profile trial in Manhattan federal court.

Combs was also acquitted of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion – pertaining to former girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another former girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym "Jane."

However, the jury found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – one each for Ventura and "Jane." Combs faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years for each of those counts.

PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs reacts as the jury foreman reads the verdict convicting him of prostitution-related offenses, July 2, 2025, in Manhattan federal court in New York City.
Elizabeth Williams/AP
Sean "Diddy" Combs reacts as the jury foreman reads the verdict convicting him of prostitution-related offenses, July 2, 2025, in Manhattan federal court in New York City.

Following six weeks of testimony presided over by U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian that saw the prosecution present 34 witnesses and the defense present none, the jury of eight men and four women deliberated just over two days before reaching their verdicts.

MORE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: 'Diddy' not guilty of racketeering in split verdict

Tune into ABC at 10/9c Wednesday for an ABC News special, “Verdict: The Diddy Trial,” on the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, and streaming next day on Hulu and Disney+.

Several hours after the verdicts were read, the judge denied Combs bail, citing the violence that was "starkly depicted" in the 2016 hotel security footage that showed him physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.

Subramanian called Combs’ domestic violence a "propensity for violence."

MORE: 'I'm coming home, baby!': Sean 'Diddy' Combs reacts after verdict read

"It is impossible for the defendant to demonstrate… that he poses no danger to the community," the judge noted.

Before the 5 p.m. bail hearing, Combs' attorneys pushed for his release Wednesday, arguing for a $1 million bond.

“I am not saying it is not a serious crime," Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said of the prostitution counts Combs was convicted of. "It is a crime of a vastly different nature,” he said. “I believe that a significant change in conditions is warranted.”

Prosecutor Maurene Comey said the government plans to pursue “significant incarceration” for Combs on the prostitution charges.

The judge set Combs' sentencing for Oct. 3 at 10 a.m.

Earlier Wednesday, the verdicts sparked mixed reactions at the lower Manhattan courthouse and beyond.

Combs got down from his chair and knelt on the floor after the verdicts were read, appearing to pray while some of his attorneys embraced. Marshals then escorted Combs out of the courtroom while some spectators in the gallery cheered and applauded.

PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs reacts after he was convicted of prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life, July 2, 2025, in Manhattan federal court in New York.
Elizabeth Williams/AP
Sean "Diddy" Combs reacts after he was convicted of prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life, July 2, 2025, in Manhattan federal court in New York.
MORE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs found guilty on 2 of 5 counts: What's next for the rap mogul?

“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution,” Douglas Wigdor, Ventura's attorney said said in a statement.

“By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice,” the statement continued, in part. “We believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial. She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion.”

“This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors," the statement concluded.

"Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, which prosecuted the case, said in a statement. "Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma. New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice."

"Prosecuting sex crimes requires brave victims to come forward and tell their harrowing stories. We and our law enforcement partners recognize the hardships victims endure and have prioritized a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases," the statement concluded.

PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs watches sex tapes shown to the jury during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 17, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Sean "Diddy" Combs watches sex tapes shown to the jury during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 17, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.

Combs was initially indicted in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation to engage in prostitution. A superseding indictment in March 2025 included additional allegations of forced labor under the racketeering conspiracy count, while another superseding indictment the following month added an additional charge of sex trafficking and one of transportation to engage in prostitution

Federal prosecutors accused Combs of using his many businesses, and the people he employed to run them, to conduct a criminal enterprise to illegally coerce women into sex and conceal his alleged illicit conduct to protect his reputation. The alleged activities included "sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice," according to the indictment.

In addition to the racketeering charge, the indictment also included two separate counts each of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution, both involving two alleged victims.

PHOTO: Casandra "Cassie" Ventura is cross-examined by lawyer Anna Estevao during Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, May 15, 2025, in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Casandra "Cassie" Ventura is cross-examined by lawyer Anna Estevao during Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, May 15, 2025, in this courtroom sketch.

Combs' attorneys countered that Combs may well be a violent man – one who indulges in unconventional sexual conduct, abused illegal drugs and committed domestic violence – but he wasn't part of a broader criminal organization.

“This case is about those real-life relationships, and the government is trying to turn those relationships into a racketeering case,” Combs’ attorney, Teny Geragos, told jurors in her opening statement. “The evidence is going to show you a very flawed individual, but it will not show you a racketeer, a sex trafficker, or somebody transporting for prostitution.”

MORE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs rejects plea deal ahead of sex trafficking trial

The prosecution called 34 witnesses over six weeks of testimony, beginning with Combs' former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, whom Combs was seen physically assaulting in a widely circulated hotel surveillance video from 2016. Other witnesses included two alleged Combs victims who testified under the pseudonyms "Mia" and "Jane," as well as two male escorts to testified that they were paid to participate in so-called "freak-off" sexual encounters with Combs, Ventura and other alleged victims. The jury also heard from witnesses to alleged abuse and sexual acts, and a forensic psychologist who testified regarding why people often remain in abusive relationships.

PHOTO: Prosecutor Emily Johnson questions rapper Kid Cudi as he testifies at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, May 22, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Prosecutor Emily Johnson questions rapper Kid Cudi as he testifies at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, May 22, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.

One of the most high-profile prosecution witnesses was Scott Mescudi, aka rapper Kid Cudi, who testified that he was told Combs allegedly broke into his home and had someone set his car on fire after learning that he was dating Cassie Ventura. Combs previously denied any involvement in the car fire.

The defense, which twice during testimony unsuccessfully asked the judge to declare a mistrial, called no witnesses before resting their case on June 24, just two hours after the prosecution rested theirs, electing only to read additional evidence into the court record. Combs told the court at that time that he did not wish to take the stand in his own defense.

Federal prosecutors the following day told Judge Arun Subramanian that they were no longer including attempted kidnapping and attempted arson as underlying crimes in the alleged racketeering conspiracy charge against Combs. Instead, prosecutors signaled that they would push sex trafficking and forced labor as primary predicate acts that the jury could find to convict Combs of racketeering conspiracy.

MORE: Everyone who testified for the prosecution in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial

Defense attorneys had argued that no evidence was presented directly tying Combs to the arson that damaged rapper Kid Cudi’s vehicle. Defense attorneys also argued that the alleged kidnapping of Combs’ former employee, Capricorn Clark, by Combs to confront Kid Cudi was far removed from the heart of the case. Federal prosecutors did not elaborate on their decision in their letter to the judge.

The prosecution delivered a nearly five-hour-long closing argument on Thursday, June 26, summarizing 28 days of testimony and evidence. The defense spent four hours the next day presenting their summation, followed by the prosecution rebuttal. Deliberations began on Monday, June 30 after Judge Arun Subramanian gave the jury their instructions.

On Tuesday, the jury told the court that they'd reached a verdict on four of the five five counts with which Combs was charged, they were unable to reach a verdict on the first count -- racketeering conspiracy -- prompting the judge to instruct them to continue deliberations.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.