Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs verdict: What was he found guilty of — and what’s next?

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found guilty of prostitution-related offences but cleared of more serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering, following a criminal trial which lasted for seven weeks.

The acquittals on sex trafficking charges means he will avoid a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. The former billionaire — known for elevating hip-hop in United States culture — could have faced life in prison if he had been convicted on sex trafficking or racketeering conspiracy.

On Tuesday, the jury had returned a partial verdict, with decisions on four of the five charges the music mogul was facing, but said they were undecided on the fifth charge. Judge Arun Subramanian told the jury to continue weighing the remaining charge, potentially prolonging the case.

Combs, 55, pleaded not guilty to all five charges against him.

A man wearing a Sean John T-shirt, a company created by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, reacts outside the US federal court, after the jury reached verdicts in the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, in Manhattan, New York City, US, on July 2, 2025 [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]

What has Combs been found guilty of?

These are the charges Combs faced and the verdicts for each:

Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy – up to life in prison. Not guilty.
Count 2: Sex-trafficking of Cassie Ventura – a minimum of 15 years and maximum of life in prison. Not guilty.
Count 3: Transporting individuals including but not limited to Cassie Ventura to engage in prostitution – a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Guilty.
Count 4: Sex-trafficking of “Jane” – a minimum of 15 years and maximum of life in prison. “Jane” is a placeholder name used in the US and some other legal systems when the identity of a person is being withheld, as was the case with the Combs trial, and one of the women who accused him. Not guilty.
Count 5: Transporting individuals including but not limited to Jane to engage in prostitution – a maximum of 10 years in prison. Guilty.

What is a partial verdict and why did it delay the overall verdict?

In the US criminal justice system, a partial verdict occurs when a jury reaches a unanimous decision on some, but not all, of the charges against a defendant.

This typically happens in cases involving multiple counts, in which the jury agrees on a verdict for certain charges but remains deadlocked on others.

Partial verdicts help ensure that the judicial process is not delayed indefinitely owing to a lack of consensus on every count.

Combs’s partial verdict came after a seven-week trial in which two of the music mogul’s former girlfriends testified that he physically and sexually abused them.

His lawyers acknowledged that the Bad Boy Records founder, once famed for hosting lavish parties, was at times violent in his domestic relationships.

But they said the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual.

The 12-member jury began deliberating on Monday this week following closing arguments, which concluded last week.

Which charge against Combs was the jury initially undecided about?

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a charge of racketeering conspiracy by Tuesday, because there were “unpersuadable opinions on both sides”, they said.

Racketeering carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Judge Subramanian instructed the jury to continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy count on Wednesday.

Courtroom sketch of Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura who cried on the stand during redirect in the sex trafficking trial [File: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters]

What were the other charges against Combs?

The jury did reach their verdict on the four other charges – two counts of sex trafficking and two of transportation to engage in prostitution – on Tuesday.

A conviction for sex trafficking carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Transportation to engage in prostitution, which involves arranging to fly sex workers across state lines, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Earlier on Tuesday, the jury asked to review portions of the testimony by the rhythm and blues singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who testified that Combs had forced her to take part in “freak-offs” throughout their decade-long relationship, which amounted to sex trafficking.

The testimony the jury asked to review related to a 2016 incident at an InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles, when a surveillance camera captured footage of Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in a hallway.

Prosecutors said that at the time of the incident, Ventura was attempting to leave a “freak-off” – Combs’s term for a drug-fuelled sex marathon in which he would watch Ventura have sex with a paid male escort while he masturbated and sometimes filmed.

Prosecutors argued that this conduct amounted to sex trafficking because Combs used force and threats to cut off financial support or release sex tapes of Ventura to coerce her to take part in the performances, and because the escorts were paid.

Another former girlfriend “Jane”, who testified under a pseudonym to protect her identity, also claimed that Combs forced her into drug-fuelled sex sessions with male sex workers.

What is racketeering?

Racketeering – the charge against Combs on which the jury was undecided until Wednesday – involves a set of illegal activities in which an individual commits at least two related crimes within 10 years as part of a larger criminal enterprise.

The law is designed to target not just isolated crimes but the broader structures behind them, such as gangs or corrupt businesses.

Racketeering charges are used to dismantle criminal organisations by linking individuals to coordinated and systemic illegal conduct.

Prosecutors alleged that for more than two decades, Combs led a criminal enterprise – abetted by his associates and employees – which worked to cover up a range of crimes including sex trafficking, forced labour, drug distribution, bribery and obstruction of justice.

To gain a conviction on the racketeering charge, prosecutors would have needed to prove that Combs established a criminal enterprise, or a coordinated plan between the musician and at least one other person.

How did Combs react to the verdict?

After the judge dismissed the jury and lawyers for both sides, Combs kneeled and appeared to pray. He then rose and addressed the courtroom gallery, saying: “I’m gonna be home soon. I love you. Thank you, I love you.”

Combs’ family and supporters erupted into applause and cheers.

The rapper chose not to testify during the trial.