For seven weeks, a jury in Manhattan has listened as prosecutors laid out a criminal sex trafficking and racketeering case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. They heard his ex-girlfriends and other witnesses deliver bombshell accounts of violence and drug-fueled sexual marathons. The jury is set to begin deliberations on Monday (June 30).
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Ultimately, they must decide whether Combs was running a criminal enterprise, as the government says, or living a swinger lifestyle, per his defense. His lawyer insists that the lifestyle included recreational drug use and, regrettably, domestic violence. The answer will determine the future of one of the biggest music moguls and cultural figures of the past four decades.
If convicted, Combs, 55, would face 15 years to life in prison. Here’s what to know about Diddy’s case ahead of jury deliberations.
What Charges Are The Jury Weighing Against Diddy?
The three-time Grammy Award winner has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges. They include: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Prosecutors say Combs coerced women into abusive sex parties involving hired male sex workers. They alleged he ensured their compliance with drugs like cocaine and threats to their careers. He also, per the government, silenced victims through blackmail and violence that included kidnapping, arson, and beatings.
“He’s the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn’t take no for an answer,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said in her closing arguments on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, portrayed the Bad Boys Records founder as the victim of overzealous prosecutors. The defense attorney said the government exaggerated elements of Diddy’s lifestyle and recreational drug use to bring charges that resulted in what he called a “fake trial.”
What Is Racketeering?
The most serious charge, racketeering conspiracy, alleges that Combs ran a criminal enterprise for two decades. He allegedly relied on bodyguards, household staff, personal assistants, and others in his orbit to facilitate and cover up crimes. Federal prosecutors brought the charge under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. Congress passed the federal law in 1970 with the declared purpose of targeting organized crime, but its use has been more widespread.
To prove the charge, prosecutors must show that an enterprise existed and was involved in a pattern of racketeering activity. In this case, that alleged activity includes kidnapping, arson, bribery, and sex trafficking.
Key Pieces Of Evidence For Diddy’s Jury To Consider
Early in the trial, prosecutors showed jurors the 2016 security video of Sean Combs beating and kicking his former longtime girlfriend, Cassie, at a Los Angeles hotel. The R&B singer testified that the assault took place as she was trying to leave one of the sexual encounters. Witnesses say Combs referred to the acts as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.” Jurors saw numerous explicit clips of such encounters, some involving Cassie and others involving a later girlfriend. She later testified under the pseudonym “Jane.”
Both exes took the stand. Cassie testified over four days that she participated in hundreds of freak-offs with paid sex workers while she and Combs were in a relationship from 2007 until 2018. She said she often felt like she didn’t have a choice. She sued Combs in 2023, alleging years of abuse. He settled for $20 million within hours, and dozens of similar lawsuits followed. Many are still pending.
Meanwhile, Jane testified over six days that she was romantically involved with Combs from 2021 until his September arrest at a New York hotel. She, too, felt forced to have sex with the hired strangers in multiday sex marathons while Combs watched.
Additionally, testimony also included hours of text message exchanges. Some of those texts, which a Homeland Security Investigations agent read aloud, involved Combs or other people in his orbit. In all, 34 people took the stand, all of them called by the prosecution. Sean Combs did not testify.
How Will Jury Deliberations Work?
Judge Arun Subramanian will give jurors instructions on Monday (June 28) before sending them off to deliberate inside the Manhattan federal courthouse. The jury of eight men and four women must unanimously decide whether each count is guilty or not guilty. That means all 12 jurors must agree. If jurors don’t reach an agreement, they could come back and say they are deadlocked.
Traditionally, the judge would then encourage them to continue deliberating, but if they can’t reach a consensus, the judge would decide whether to declare a mistrial.
While it remains unclear which way the jury is leaning, it’s worth noting that Diddy has previously had luck in the courtroom. In 2001, he was acquitted in connection with a nightclub shooting for which his artist Shyne got a 10-year sentence.
RELATED: A Timeline Of Diddy’s Past Charges & The One Time He Was Acquitted In 2001
Associated Press Staff contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
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