Acquitted of the more serious racketeering and sex trafficking offenses, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been found guilty on two prostitution charges.
On Tuesday (7.01,) during third day of deliberations, the jury of eight men and four women found the disgraced rapper guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, the now 55-year-old was acquitted of two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy, which could have put him behind bars for the remainder of of his natural life.
According to The Associated Press, as the verdicts were read out loud in the New York City courtroom, Combs held his hands in prayer and subtly pumped his fist .
The above notwithstanding, when the defendant’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, asked the judge if his client could be immediately released on bail and allowed to return to his house in Florida, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey argued that Combs should remain incarcerated, saying there’s a “real risk that he will flagrantly disregard orders from this court, that he will commit new crimes and that he will attempt to flee justice” before sentencing in October.
After Judge Arun Subramanian adjourned the court, Combs reportedly wiped his face, knelt at his chair and bowed his head in prayer as his family stood up and applauded. As he was led out of the courtroom and back into custody, he reportedly told them that he’ll “be home soon”.
The accusations against Sean Combs began in November of 2023 when his ex-girlfriend, the trial’s star witness Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse that was settled out of court the following day for $20,000,000.00
Combs has been behind bars in New York since he was first arrested in a Manhattan hotel in September of 2024 and is also facing a series of civil sexual abuse lawsuits. He has denied the allegations.
Although found innocent of the more serious charges, the embattled musician could still face a maximum of ten years in prison.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: HOTSPOTATL