Diddy sex trafficking trial jury reaches verdict on all but ONE charge
A SPLIT verdict has been reached in the federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The courtroom received a letter from the jury at around 4:05 pm on Tuesday, informing the judge that jurors had reached a verdict on four of the five counts.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs listens as lead prosecutor Maurene Comey makes rebuttal arguments for the government on June 27Credit: Reuters
Diddy performs onstage at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards in New Jersey in September 2023Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Sean Combs huddled with his defense team in court on June 30Credit: Reuters
Cassandra 'Cassie' Ventura sobbed on the stand during her testimony, which went on for four-daysCredit: ReutersThe note said the jury reached a verdict on counts 2-5, which are the sex trafficking and transportation for engaging in prostitution charges.
However, it also indicated that jurors were unable to agree unanimously on count 1 - the racketeering conspiracy charge.
Combs faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence if convicted of either prostitution charge, and a minimum of 15 years if convicted of either sex trafficking count.
He faces a life sentence if convicted on the racketeering conspiracy charge.
Judge Arun Subramanian ruled to give the jury more time to deliberate over the deadlocked charge after receiving proposals from the prosecution and the defense on how to move forward with the split verdict.
Moments later, the judge dismissed the jury for the day and instructed them to continue their deliberation on count 1 on Wednesday morning.
BLISTERING CLOSING ARGUMENTSIn closing arguments, prosecutors described Combs as the "leader of a criminal enterprise" who used his expansive "wealth, power, violence, and fear to get what he wanted."
"He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law," Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said.
"It was his kingdom. Everyone was there to serve him."
The core evidence of the prosecution's case was the disturbing and graphic nature of the drug-fueled "freak-offs" that at times Combs allegedly coerced his ex-girlfriends to participate in with male escorts.
Slavik described to jurors how Combs forced his former lovers Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura and "Jane" into participating in the punishing sex marathons and with the help of an inner circle of "loyal lieutenants" covered up the alleged crimes.
Ventura and Jane were sometimes required to perform the lewd acts, which were also called "hotel nights and wild king nights," while they were hurting from urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to prosecutors.
Ventura testified that the choreographed encounters, which she said were directed by Combs, could last days, with the longest she ever participated in being four days.
On the other hand, Combs' defense team slammed the prosecution's case as an attack on "your bedroom" and one's sex life.
“They go into the man’s bedroom. They go into the man’s most private life. Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life. That’s the crime scene," Marc Agnifilo, Combs' lead defense attorney, said during closing arguments.
Agnifilo summarized the seven-week trial as a "tale of two trials," arguing one side is the one told by the evidence of the case, by witnesses, videos, and text messages, and the other was a "badly, badly, exaggerated" story told by prosecutors.
The defense attorney argued the sexual encounters involving Combs, Ventura, "Jane," and male escorts were consensual, and called the "freak-offs," which were sometimes video recorded, "homemade porn."
"You want to call it swingers, you want to call it threesomes, whatever you want to call it, that is what it is - that's what the evidence shows," Agnifilo told the jury.
Read More on The US Sun"He did what he did. But he's going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn't do.”
Read our live blog of the verdict of Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial...
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained the set of charges Diddy is facing to The US Sun.
"Diddy is facing three charges, or three sets of charges.
"The first is racketeering, which you typically see with organized crime enterprises - so the mob, cartels, street gangs -but we're seeing it a lot more in sex trafficking cases."
Another set of charges is over sex trafficking.
Rahmani said: "What separates sex trafficking from normal sex? Adults, of course, can consent to any type of sex, no matter how freaky it is. But sex trafficking has one of three elements: force, fraud, or coercion.
"The least serious charge is the prostitution, sometimes called the Man Act, and that's engaging in prostitution using some sort of interstate commerce across state lines. That obviously is unlawful.
"Typically, you don't see federal cases for prostitution only, which is why it's the least serious of the crimes."
After hearing about the jury note, Sean Combs' demeanor turned grim as his lawyers huddled around him and explained what was happening.
At one point, Combs' lead defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, stepped away from the huddle and returned with a piece of paper.
Agnifilo then handed the paper to Combs, who "read it solemnly," according to the Associated Press.
The jury informed Judge Arun Subramanian that they had reached unanimous verdicts for counts 2-5, the four sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
However, the judge refused to read out the verdict on Tuesday before he instructed the jury to continue deliberating on count 1, the RICO count.
The jury will resume deliberating on the racketeering count on Wednesday at 9 am.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs shown in a sketch image from Tuesday's proceedingCombs will be forced to wait until Wednesday to learn his fate after the judge refused to read out the four counts the jury reached a verdict on.
It's unclear how the jury swayed on counts 2-5.
However, the jury remains deadlocked on count 1 - the racketeering conspiracy charge.
The RICO count frames the entire case as organized criminal behavior.
Before leaving the courtroom, Sean 'Diddy' Combs whispered to his six children seated in the spectators gallery.
Combs then leaned over to his mother, Janice, and told her, "I'll be alright. I love you," and tapped his chest.
Judge Arun Subramanian received a letter from jurors at around 4:05 pm that read the jury had reached a verdict for counts 2 to 5.
Counts 2 to 5 were the two sex trafficking, for both Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura and "Jane," and the two transportation to engage in prostitution charges.
Jurors were deadlocked on the racketeering conspiracy crime.
Judge Subramanian weighed on whether to allow the jury to read their split verdict, or give them more time to deliberate.
Prosecutors proposed a modified Allen charge - a set of instructions that asks jurors to re-examine their own views and opinions in order to reach a decision.
On the other hand, Sean Combs' defense team argued to give the jury more time to deliberate as they had already reached a verdict on counts two to five.
"I received your note that you have reached verdicts on count 2-5, but not on count 1. I ask at this time that you keep deliberating," the judge told the jury.
Jurors will reconvene at 9 am on Wednesday to continue their deliberation.
The verdicts for counts two to five were not read to the courtroom.
The judge has dismissed the jury for the day.
Judge Subramanian informed the jurors that they should head directly to the jury room tomorrow.
"Do not watch or read about this case," the judge cautioned the jury.
Judge Arun Subramanian has instructed the jurors to go back to the deliberation room and continue deliberating the deadlocked charge.
"I ask you to return to the jury room. If you decide you are done for the day, send me another note and I'll bring you back out to end the day," the judge told jurors.
The note from the jury read that there are "unpersuadable on count 1 on both sides," meaning jurors are split between a guilty verdict and innocence.
Judge Arun Subramanian is leaning in favor of giving the jurors more time to deliberate the deadlock charge, which is the racketeering conspiracy crime.
Sean Combs is charged with five federal counts, including racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
The racketeering conspiracy charge is the most serious charge, with a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The sex trafficking charges holds a minimum sentence of 15 years, with a maximum life in prison sentence.
While the transportation to engage in prostitution charges carries a maximum 10-year sentence.
As the judge reviewed the jury note, Sean Combs was seated with hands on his lap and having whispering conversations with his defense team.
Sean Combs and his attorney Marc Agnifilo discuss with other defense lawyers on how to respond to a new note sent by jurors on TuesdayJudge Arun Subramanian is expected to instruct the jury on how to proceed shortly.
The defense has argued for the jury to continue deliberating on the final charge.
In their note to the judge, the jury said they have not been able to reach a verdict on count 1, which is the racketeering conspiracy crime.
The jury informed the judge they have reached a verdict on counts 2, 3, 4, and 5, which are the sex trafficking and transportation for engaging in prostitution charges.
The jury has reached a verdict on the sex trafficking and transportation for engaging in prostitution charges.