Music industry titan, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, received a judgment in his federal sexual misconduct trial recently. Upon doing so, the court declined to let him out on bail. This outcome was due to a mix of outcomes across his various charges; he was acquitted of some and found guilty of others. The acquitted charges were notably serious, involving sex trafficking and racketeering allegations, while the charges on which he was found at fault pertained to aspects of prostitution.
Taking place in New York City, this federal case scrutinized the criminal charges that Combs firmly asserted his innocence against. A jury of his peers reached the final decision on a Wednesday morning, following a day of deliberation where the court was informed of only reaching a partial verdict. Combs was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of facilitating engagement in prostitution, and one count of racketeering conspiracy.
The jury, however, ultimately found him guilty not on these initial charges but on the less severe ones. Combs was found guilty of aiding in the engagement in prostitution, a charge brought about by the testimonies of his two former partners. This charge is far less severe than the other accusations leveled against him, which could have led to life imprisonment. For each count, Combs faces a possible maximum of a 10-year prison sentence.
The court is still deliberating whether to seek the maximum penalty for the two counts Combs was found guilty of. Meanwhile, Combs’ attorneys are seeking his release from custody until his sentencing, set to occur on the 3rd of October. Combs has been incarcerated for roughly nine months at the time of this verdict. The proposed conditions for bail include a $1 million bond co-signed by Combs and his immediate family.
Additionally, proposals for Combs’ release restricted his travel within specific districts of Florida and California, where he owns residences. Combs would also be able to go to certain areas in New York or New Jersey where he could access the court and meet with his counsel. Other suggested provisions involved surrendering his passport and undergoing drug testing, among other standard pretrial supervision conditions. Despite these proposals, the prosecution called for his continued incarceration.
Deonte Nash, a known celebrity stylist and one amongst the witnesses who testified during the trial, contributed a letter requesting Combs be kept in custody. Nash expressed fear that should Combs be released, he could instigate retaliation. Drawing from arguments of the past, Nash stated that Combs has demonstrated a tendency for violent, oppressive, and retaliatory actions. He added that Combs has persistently avoided significant accountability, creating a pattern that served to inflate his perceived impunity.
Convinced by the presented motives, the judge denied the bail request, maintaining Combs’ custody till his sentencing. Just as the jury started the third day of deliberations, a decision was reached. For the jury to determine the racketeering conspiracy charge, they had to identify five specific acts of crime from within the charge, of which Combs was proclaimed guilty. These crimes ranged from kidnapping, arson, bribery, witness tampering, and forced labor.
Consisting of eight men and four women, the jury assessed the testimonies of 34 witnesses throughout the two-month trial. Astonishingly, two of Combs’ former partners were among the key witnesses forming the prosecution’s case. These individuals, a woman testifying under the pseudonym ‘Jane’ and singer Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura Fine, played a significant role in Combs’ prosecution.
Cassie accused Combs of abuse spanning a decade in a civil case filed in 2023, which is believed to have sparked the criminal trial. After settling the lawsuit with Combs for $20 million, Cassie’s accusations triggered a sex trafficking investigation that led to Combs’ arrest less than a year later. At the heart of the criminal trial were alleged drug-induced prolonged sexual encounters hosted by Combs, which often involved male prostitutes. These occasions, named either ‘freak offs’ or ‘hotel nights’ were reported to have been carefully documented.
Cassie and Jane both testified that they felt obliged to participate in these so-called ‘hotel nights’ to maintain a relationship with Combs. Cassie even admitted feeling as though these events had become her employment. Both women also attested to enduring countless episodes of physical, emotional, and mental torment throughout their relationships with Combs. Accompanying these testimonies were allegations of rape by a former aide, as well as a claim by a former friend of Cassie’s that Combs had hung her over a balcony, leading to lasting trauma.
Combs’ defense attorneys acknowledged his struggles with violent behavior but stood by the assertion that all sexual acts were consensual. During the trial, his legal team painted a picture of Combs as a ‘swinger’ as a part of his defense strategy. Despite mounting accusations, Combs did not testify personally, and the defense chose not to call any witnesses to the stand.
Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ Defense Attorney, argued during his closing statement that the charges against Combs were unfounded, suggesting that the prosecution was inflicting on Combs’ private life. He argued that the supposed crime scene was merely the private sexual activities of Combs. The jury examined evidence from police raids on Combs’ residences, uncovering items like an enormous collection of baby oil and video recordings of the aforementioned ‘freak offs’.
Prosecutors put forth the argument that Combs’ record label, Bad Boy Records, and other related ventures, were used as fronts to perpetuate criminal activities. Allegations also came to light about Combs setting fire to Scott Mescudi’s, better known as Kid Cudi, vehicle in a vengeful act for a previous relationship with Cassie. Despite all these accusations, the jury could not find sufficient conclusive evidence to pronounce Combs guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.