The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial has reached a verdict on four out of five counts brought against him, but was unable to come to an agreement on the top charge, racketeering.
According to the AP, the jury told Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday that it reached a verdict on two counts each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. According to CNN, the jury stated they had “unpersuadable opinions” regarding the racketeering count.
Sean “Diddy” Combs was accused of five federal counts of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, all crimes he’s pleaded not guilty to. Racketeering conspiracy is the top charge and the most complicated as it “requires the jury to decide not only whether he ran a ‘racketeering enterprise,’ but also whether he was involved in committing some or all of various types of offenses, such as kidnapping and arson.”
Count 1 (Racketeering) carries the heaviest penalty, with a maximum sentence of life in prison. Counts 2 and 4 (Sex Trafficking) have a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison. Counts 3 and 5 (Transportation to engage in prostitution) each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.
The prosecution and the defense both indicated they want Judge Subramanian to push the jury to continue deliberating. The jury was dismissed for the day and will resume deliberations on the count tomorrow.
Much of the drama surrounding Combs sparked up following years-worth of allegations Combs has been hit with, the recently-released footage of him assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016, as well as the lawsuit Ventura filed on Nov. 23, 2023 accusing Combs of sexual abuse and control. Ventura and Combs settled the next day for $20 million.
After sever weeks and 34 witnesses, the jury heard Combs’ team and the prosecution’s closing arguments last week.
During prosecution’s closing remarks, they spotlighted how Combs allegedly used his powerful influence to execute a series of “brutal crimes.”
“The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” assistant U.S. attorney Christy Slavik told the jury in the prosecution’s closing arguments, according to the Associated Press. “He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law.”
Prosecution presented evidence of his alleged criminal conspiracies that traced back over 20 years, noting the alleged kidnapping Ventura and his former assistant Capricorn Clark, which was detailed over the previous weeks of the trial. Another example mentioned was the alleged bombing of musician Kid Cudi’s car, among other crimes — all of which she said Combs was able to orchestrate through his platform and his loyal staff.
Some of the other testimonies came from a former assistant who went by the pseudonym “Mia.” During her time on the stand she stated Combs put his hand up her dress and forcibly kissed her at his 40th birthday party in 2009. She also accused him of forcing her to perform oral sex on him and raping her in 2010. Combs denied all allegations. Additionally, Bryana “Bana” Bongolan claimed in her testimony that Combs dangled her over a balcony at Ventura’s home in 2016.
Witnesses George Kaplan, David James and Brendan Paul all shared experiences with Combs’ “freak-off” parties. James said he was tasked with stocking hotels with baby oil, condoms, viagra and other items Combs requested. Paul was instructed to purchase and bring Combs drugs, such as cocaine, ketamine, marijuana and other substances. Kaplan, who said he quit working for Combs after watching Combs fight Ventura, shared that he often cleaned up what was left after the “freak-off” sessions were finished. Kaplan, who noted that he still sends Combs birthday greetings, never reported Combs and shared that still has a “great deal of respect” for him.
When it was Combs’ teams turn for closing arguments, his team refuted and downplayed the racketeering and sex trafficking charges against the disgraced music mogul during their closing statement on Friday, arguing that the prosecution team had failed to present any actual evidence of either crime.
“He did not do the things he’s charged with. He didn’t do racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking,” attorney Marc Agnifilo told jurors on Friday, according to the Associated Press. “Did any witness get on that witness stand and say, ‘Yes, I was part of a racketeering enterprise — I engaged in racketeering?’”
Agnifilo went so far as to call Combs’ entire trial, which is in its seventh week, a “fake trial” and mocked the federal agents who seized hundreds of bottles of lubricant and baby oil from the rapper’s property. “Way to go, fellas,” he reportedly said of the government workers.
The attorney further argued that the prosecution had “badly exaggerated” the presented evidence against Combs — twisting his swinger lifestyle and penchant for recreational drug use, threesomes and domestic violence into a criminal case of racketeering and sex trafficking.
If convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs faces up to life in prison, as well as an additional statutory minimum sentence of 15 years if he’s found guilty of sex trafficking. Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided on March 25, 2024 and he was arrested in New York City on Sept. 16, 2024.
The post Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Jury Reaches Verdict on 4 of 5 Counts, Will Resume Deliberations Tomorrow appeared first on TheWrap.