In a complex legal outcome, Sean “Diddy” Combs received a mixed verdict from a Manhattan jury after three days of deliberations. The hip-hop mogul was found not guilty of the most severe charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking allegations involving both Cassie Ventura and a woman referred to as “Jane.” This acquittal represents a significant legal victory for Combs, as these charges could have resulted in life imprisonment.

However, the jury did find Combs guilty of violating the federal Mann Act. He was convicted of transporting individuals across state lines for the purpose of prostitution, a group that included his ex-girlfriends and paid male sex workers. This felony conviction still places his freedom and career in serious jeopardy, as he faces the possibility of up to 10 years in prison, despite avoiding a life sentence.

Upon the delivery of the verdict, the 55-year-old showed visible relief, smiling, nodding, and offering a prayer-like gesture towards the jury before embracing his lead defense lawyer, Teny Geragos. He then thanked the panel of eight men and four women, who had reportedly struggled to reach a consensus on the more serious racketeering charge.

During the trial, prosecutors had painted a damning picture of Combs, alleging he orchestrated a two-decade criminal enterprise. They claimed he leveraged his fame, wealth, and staff to intimidate, coerce, and control his victims. Central to their case were the detailed accusations from R&B singer Cassie Ventura, Combs’ former long-term partner, and the woman known as “Jane.” Both women testified to years of psychological and sexual abuse, describing how Combs allegedly forced them into drug-fueled sex marathons, referred to in court as “freak-offs,” involving hired male sex workers.

Jurors heard disturbing claims that included beatings, blackmail, and threats of revenge porn. A key piece of evidence was video footage of a hotel assault, widely circulated, which showed Combs dragging and kicking Ventura. Prosecutors had argued that Combs operated like a mob boss, using a network of employees, bodyguards, and assistants to commit or cover up crimes such as bribery, arson, kidnapping, and witness tampering. They sought to prosecute him under the federal RICO statute, a legal tool typically used to dismantle organized crime.

Combs’ legal team vigorously rejected these charges, characterizing the trial as an overreach and an attempt to criminalize what they asserted was his consensual sexual lifestyle. While they acknowledged elements of domestic violence, they firmly insisted there was no basis for federal sex trafficking charges against him.