Sean 'Diddy' Combs convicted on prostitution offences but cleared of sex trafficking

The seven-week trial of American rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs has reached its end, and the jury has found him guilty of prostitution-related offences but cleared him of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution in connection with two of his ex-girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane".

The 55-year-old rapper was cleared of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.

Both Ventura and "Jane" testified that Combs physically and sexually abused them. He was also accused of being the ringleader of an organisation that "abused, threatened and coerced women" into drug abuse and sexual orgies. These alleged events were called "freak-offs".

The women claimed that Combs forced them to stay silent, threatening to withhold financial support or to leak sexually explicit images of them, should they speak out.

Combs has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all five counts.

After his conviction on both prostitution-related charges, Combs faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence on each of the counts. His sentence will be decided by US District Judge Arun Subramanian.

Since Combs was cleared of sex trafficking, he will circumvent a 15-year mandatory sentence. Both the charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy could have entailed life in prison for the rapper.

His lawyers, Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, said that the hip-hop mogul simply enjoyed a swingers lifestyle and denied all allegations.

The verdict comes as a blow to prosecutors, who urged the jury to convict Combs of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.

Since his arrest in September 2024, Combs has been detained in federal jail in Brooklyn. His lawyer's request to release Combs on bail was opposed by prosecutors.

By 5 pm Irish time, the judge requested written arguments from both parties regarding Combs' release.