A federal jury has delivered a partial verdict in the trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, finding consensus on four of the five charges but deadlocking on the most serious racketeering conspiracy count. Combs faces allegations spanning racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
After approximately 12 to 13 hours of deliberations over two days, jurors reached verdicts for both sex trafficking and transportation counts, yet remained impassed on the racketeering charge. The note from jurors cited “unpersuadable opinions on both sides,” prompting U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to instruct further deliberations beginning Wednesday morning.
Combs, aged 55, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors alleged he wielded his celebrity, wealth, and fear to coerce ex-girlfriends—including Cassie Ventura and a woman known as “Jane”—into drug-fueled sexual encounters called “freak‑offs.” The racketeering conspiracy allegation accuses him of orchestrating a long-running criminal enterprise using his business infrastructure .
The sex trafficking and prostitution counts carry substantial penalties—up to 20 years for trafficking and 10 years for prostitution—while the racketeering charge could result in life imprisonment.
Courtroom coverage noted Combs appeared visibly distressed after the jury’s partial verdict. His legal team requested continued deliberation, with the prosecution concurring. The judge postponed a formal verdict announcement until the racketeering decision is resolved.
The trial, which opened May 5 and closed June 26 after six weeks of testimony from more than 30 witnesses, featured harrowing accounts from Ventura and “Jane,” including physical abuse, coercion, and non-consensual acts. Combs’ defense argued the encounters were consensual and attacked the prosecution’s depiction as sensationalized.
With the jury now back to work, the remaining decision on racketeering is critical. A conviction would substantially elevate the consequences for Combs. If jurors remain deadlocked, Judge Subramanian may consider instructions to break the gridlock or eventually accept a hung count.
This trial represents a landmark federal effort to prosecute high-profile figures under racketeering statutes tied to sex trafficking. The outcome, poised to conclude imminently, could redefine legal boundaries concerning celebrity influence and accountability.
