Combs was acquitted on the most serious charges against him, but convicted of two lower counts.
WASHINGTON — In the trial involving Sean “Diddy” Combs, the jury found him guilty of a crime associated with prostitution but acquitted him of charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering.
Here’s what we know about the potential sentence:
Will Combs spend years in prison?
The music icon, who has won three Grammy awards, was found guilty of transporting individuals across state lines, including his partners and male escorts, for the purpose of engaging in sexual activities. This action violated the Mann Act, a federal law established 115 years ago and named after James Mann, a congressman from Illinois.
Initially, this law prohibited taking women or girls across state lines for “prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose.” It has since been revised to be gender-neutral and encompasses any sexual conduct “for which any person can face criminal charges.”
The maximum potential sentence is 10 years in prison on each of the two counts, though U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian will have much discretion and could order concurrent sentences.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey said the government is expected to seek “a substantial period of incarceration.”
The government said Combs coerced women into abusive sex parties involving hired male sex workers, ensured their compliance with drugs like cocaine and threats to their careers, and silenced victims through blackmail and violence that included kidnapping, arson and beatings.
The jury, however, acquitted Combs of the most serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — which could have carried a sentence of up to life in prison.
What is racketeering conspiracy?
Combs defeated the racketeering charge. Authorities had accused him of running a criminal enterprise that relied on bodyguards, household staff, personal assistants and others in his orbit to facilitate and cover up crimes.
It’s commonly used to tackle organized crime, with prosecutors using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act, or RICO, to take on the Mafia in the 1970s.
To prove the charge, prosecutors had to show that an enterprise existed and was involved in a pattern of racketeering activity. In this case, the alleged activity included kidnapping, arson, bribery and sex trafficking.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, portrayed the Bad Boys Records founder as the victim of overzealous prosecutors who exaggerated elements of his lifestyle and recreational drug use to bring charges that resulted in what he called a “fake trial.” He said the women were willing participants.
How long did the jury work?
Deliberations began Monday in late morning.
The panel of eight men and four women sent a note that it had reached a verdict at 9:52 a.m. Wednesday, a day after telling the judge that it was stuck on one of the five charges, racketeering. The judge said Tuesday it was too soon to give up and ordered the jury to return Wednesday to try to reach a unanimous verdict.
Combs pumped his right fist after hearing that he was acquitted of the most serious charges.
What’s next?
Combs remained in custody after the verdict, but his attorneys want him released on bond to await sentencing. Prosecutors oppose it.
Agnifilo argued that conviction on a prostitution charge is of a “vastly different nature” than the charges on which he was acquitted.
