Court finally reaches verdict in Diddy’s case, but what did they decide?

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted Tuesday of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution, but was cleared of the most serious accusations of racketeering and sex trafficking, bringing an end to a widely watched federal trial in New York.

After three days of deliberations, the jury, composed of eight men and four women, returned a mixed verdict. While Combs avoided the most severe charges that could have resulted in a life sentence, the guilty verdicts under the federal Mann Act still carry a potential prison term of up to 10 years and are likely to mark a dramatic fall from grace for the 55-year-old artist and entrepreneur.

Combs was found guilty of transporting his former partner, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, and another woman, identified only as “Jane,” for prostitution. However, he was acquitted of sex trafficking charges related to both women, as well as the overarching racketeering conspiracy charge.

The final verdicts were as follows:

• Racketeering conspiracy: Not guilty
• Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura: Not guilty
• Transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others: Guilty
• Sex trafficking of “Jane”: Not guilty
• Transportation for prostitution of “Jane” and others: Guilty

The verdict came after US District Judge Arun Subramanian pushed the jury to continue deliberations despite earlier signs of deadlock. He noted that fewer than 13 hours of discussion were not sufficient for such complex charges, particularly the racketeering conspiracy, which carried the harshest penalty.

Prosecutors had painted Combs as a manipulative and violent figure who used his influence, wealth, and physical dominance to orchestrate drug-fueled sex acts with both female partners and hired male sex workers. The government argued that Combs orchestrated a years-long scheme that crossed state lines and blurred the lines between coercion and consent.

But the jury ultimately rejected the allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering, suggesting they were not persuaded that Combs’ behavior met the high legal bar for those crimes.

Throughout the trial, Combs’ legal team acknowledged that he had been a volatile and even violent partner at times, but insisted that the women involved were not forced into anything. “He may have been a bad boyfriend,” one attorney told the court, “but that doesn’t make him a criminal.”

With the trial now concluded, Combs faces sentencing in the coming months. While he avoided life behind bars, the guilty verdicts still pose serious legal consequences, and may mark the end of his decades-long reign in music, fashion, and entertainment.