Sean “Diddy” Combs, once one of the most powerful moguls in music, has just been foundguiltyontwo felony countsin his high-profile sex-trafficking trial. The Bad Boy Records founder, now 55, was convicted by a Manhattan jury on charges oftransportation to engage in prostitution, while beingacquittedon more serious accusations, includingsex traffickingandracketeering conspiracy.
The verdict, delivered by a panel of eight men and four women at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse,caps off a staggering fall from gracefor the rap icon and entrepreneur. The mixed result followed nearly two full days of tense jury deliberations, including a warning on July 1 that the group was split with “unpersuadable opinions on both sides” of the racketeering charge. By Wednesday morning, however, consensus had been reached — at least partially.
Combs, who has been held without bail atBrooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrestin September, sat in court surrounded by his family, including his mother and children. At one point before the verdict was read, the embattled music mogul led his loved ones in prayer: “Let us pray, please watch over my family,” he said, receiving an “Amen” in reply.
The judge overseeing the case,Arun Subramanian, praised the jury’s perseverance through weeks of disturbing testimony and emotionally grueling evidence. “You listened, you worked together, you were here every day, rain or shine,” Subramanian told them following the reading of the verdict.
The outcome is certain to trigger an appeal, with Combs’ legal team already expected to challenge the conviction. His attorneys — a legal team includingMarc Agnifilo,Alexandra Shapiro, andBrian Steel— had hoped for full acquittal, after running a surprisingly brief defense that lasted just 30 minutes and included no witnesses, not even Combs himself.
Will Diddy Go to Jail?
Combs faces potential prison timeon the two counts for which he was found guilty, though he narrowly avoided a life sentence by dodging the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy convictions. Sentencing is expected later this year.
Whether or not Combs will see the inside of a prison for decades or find a way to negotiate his way out with appeals remains to be seen. But in terms of his public image and legacy, the damage appears irreversible. Once hailed as a music industry visionary and cultural icon, Diddy now carries the stain of a criminal conviction tied to one of the ugliest scandals in recent celebrity memory.
