What to know about the charges against Diddy
This is a free newsletter for newsletter subscribers. to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout the trial.
We're now 17 days away from the start of jury selection in Diddy's criminal trial, when this newsletter will take you inside a federal courtroom in downtown Manhattan with exclusive access to one of the biggest celebrity trials in memory. If you have any questions, drop us a line at diddyontrial@nbcuni.com. We may feature your query in a future edition.
In today's edition of Diddy on Trial, I break down the charges against the hip-hop mogul. Plus, we take a question from one of our readers. But first, here's a look at some key developments in the case.
Judge Arun Subramanian denied a request by Diddy's lawyer to delay the trial for two months at a two-hour hearing today. Adam Reiss, who was in the courtroom, told us Diddy seemed 'solemn and anxious.' When the hearing ended, court officers allowed Diddy to turn his chair and face his mother in the gallery. 'I love you,' he told her. 'Everything will be alright.' There's another hearing next week.
Diddy pleaded not guilty Monday to two new counts of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Diddy's lawyers are asking the judge to let prospective jurors be questioned in writing about their opinions on sex, drugs and violence. But prosecutors don't like that proposal. They'd like questions on those topics to be asked in person by the judge. Janelle Griffith has details.
Brian Steel, an attorney who represented rapper Young Thug in Georgia's longest-running criminal trial, joined Diddy's legal team.
The jury instructions gave us a more precise idea of the timetable for the trial. It's expected to last about eight to 10 weeks. It'll be held five days a week, Monday through Friday. The first week of the trial will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET; after that, it'll go from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. ET.We heard from a reader named Stacey Rice, who wanted to know whether the trial will be broadcast live on television. The short answer: no.
In general, cameras are not allowed in federal criminal cases. Rule 53 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure says in part that 'the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.'
But one of the goals of this newsletter is to get you closer to the action. In most editions, reporter/producer Adam Reiss will provide reports on the scene inside 500 Pearl St. — including how Diddy seems to react to the most pivotal testimony.On Sept. 17, Diddy was plunged deeper into legal jeopardy.
That's the date when federal prosecutors unsealed a sweeping indictment against the hip-hop impresario. In the 14-page document, the government painted a damning portrait of a powerful celebrity who allegedly 'abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.'
'Combs relied on the employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled—creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice,' prosecutors alleged.
In the seven months since the first wave of criminal counts were unsealed and the embattled mogul pleaded not guilty, prosecutors have updated the indictment three separate times. Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denied wrongdoing. Here's a short guide to the charges — and prison sentences Diddy faces if he's convicted.
The original indictment filed by prosecutors with the Southern District of New York contains three charges:
racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison;
sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison;
and transportation to engage in prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The indictment refers to a Victim-1, whose accusations closely mirror those of R&B singer Cassie, Diddy's ex-girlfriend. She filed a civil lawsuit against him in November 2023, which they settled within a day but laid the groundwork for a federal investigation.
In a 15-page document filed Jan. 30, prosecutors expanded the timeline of Diddy's alleged racketeering conspiracy, placing it from around 2004 to 2024. They also added two new sex trafficking victims, identified as Victim-2 and Victim-3, and accused Diddy of dangling someone over an apartment balcony. But no new charges were leveled against him.
In a 15-page document filed March 6, prosecutors added more detail to their portrait of Diddy as the mastermind of an alleged criminal conspiracy, accusing him of forcing employees to work long hours with little sleep and wielding threats to get them to comply with his demands.
The second superseding indictment also didn't contain new charges.
In the latest updated indictment, filed April 3, prosecutors added two more charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution — bringing the total number of criminal counts against Diddy to five.
Prosecutors have shielded the identities of all the alleged victims at the center of the case.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Judge moves toward nixing juror in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial over 'lack of candor'
The judge in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-crimes trial moved closer to dismissing a juror, two days after prosecutors raised issues about the man's alleged "lack of candor with the court." U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian indicated he would be ordering for Juror No. 6's removal from the 12-person jury on Friday, June 13. Six alternates have been on the sidelines in the trial, which is wrapping its sixth week in Manhattan federal court. In court, Subramanian said, "Removal of the juror is required" and added, "The juror will be dismissed." The reason was "several inconsistencies" in the man's answers regarding where he lives. Subramanian continued, "The juror is unable to answer simple questions. … There are serious questions about the juror's candor and ability to follow instructions." Though it "seems like a trivial matter," it "goes to a juror's basic criteria to serve," he said. Because of the "changing answers and inconsistency," Subramanian said it brings up questions about whether the juror was truthful in responding to other questions more directly related to the case. Defense attorney Xavier Donaldson objected to the juror's dismissal. Subramanian responded that he would continue to take the issue under consideration over the weekend. Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom with our daily updates. According to the judge, Juror No. 6 offhandedly told a member of the jury department that he had recently moved in with his girlfriend in New Jersey, where he had been staying most of the time. June 13 in court: Ye makes appearance, assistant says he 'slipped and fell' from baby oil cleanup When asked where he lived during jury selection in early May, he'd said he was living in the Bronx with his fiancée and baby daughter, Subramanian said. In yet another interview, Juror No. 6 allegedly said he stayed four to five nights each week in an apartment in New York, where he worked and completed jury responsibilities. He'd also mentioned living with his aunt in New York. Before the jury entered the courtroom June 11, prosecutors reportedly asked the judge to oust one of them, known as Juror No. 6, according to outlets including NBC News and CNN. Per NBC News and The Washington Post, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey told Subramanian she saw "what appeared to be a lack of candor with the court" from Juror No. 6 "that raises serious issues." Alexandra Shapiro from Combs' team reportedly pushed back against the request, calling it "a thinly veiled effort to dismiss a Black juror, The Post and ABC News reported. Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. Contributing: Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy trial's Juror No. 6 could be dismissed 6 weeks into trial
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Kanye's Cameo in Court - Trial By Jury: Diddy - Podcast on CNN Audio
Trial By Jury: Diddy 28 mins Rapper Kanye West showed up at court today to support Sean 'Diddy' Combs, putting a spotlight on the role of fame and celebrity in this trial. We get an update on the circus that ensued at the courthouse today. Then entertainment lawyer Lisa Bonner weighs in on the fifth week of testimony and whether Diddy's larger-than-life persona will work in favor of the prosecution — or the defense.
CNN
5 hours ago
- CNN
Marines guard federal building in LA
Marines guard federal building in LA Approximately 200 active-duty Marines have taken over from the National Guard troops who were previously deployed according to Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, who oversees the 4,700 troops who have been deployed to the LA area in recent days. They 'will focus on the protection of federal property and personnel,' Sherman said, and will not be performing law enforcement activities. The Marines will be equipped with 'standard crowd control gear, which includes a helmet, their face shield, a shield, baton and gas masks,' according to Sherman. 00:44 - Source: CNN Kanye West makes brief appearance at Diddy trial courthouse Kanye West, who goes by Ye, was briefly at the courthouse where Sean "Diddy" Combs is on trial. A source close to West previously told CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister that he would like to attend the trial to show support for Combs. 00:27 - Source: CNN 'We will kill you': Florida sheriff issues stern warning to protesters As protests over the Trump administration's immigration raids continue in Los Angeles and other cities, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and law enforcement officials warned that demonstrators could face a forceful response in the state, CNN affiliate WESH reports. 00:33 - Source: CNN Analysis: Why Israel attacked Iran now CNN's Oren Liebermann explains the reasons why Israel decided to attack Iran in unprecedented strikes targeting its nuclear program and senior military leaders. 01:49 - Source: CNN Israel launches 'preemptive strike' on Iran Israel launched strikes against Iran, targeting its nuclear program and long-range missile capabilities, an Israeli military official said. CNN's Kaitlan Collins reports. 01:38 - Source: CNN Survivor of India plane crash appears to walk away from site in video Video appears to show the sole survivor of a 242 passenger plane crash walking away from the rubble. 00:27 - Source: CNN Video shows Sen. Padilla handcuffed on the ground at DHS event Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem separately spoke to the press after Padilla was forcibly removed and placed in handcuffs at Noem's press conference in Los Angeles, California. 01:19 - Source: CNN Sen. Padilla forcibly removed from Noem's press conference Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California was confronted by security and forcibly removed from a news conference being held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles. 00:14 - Source: CNN Expert examines CCTV footage to see what happened to Air India flight before crash Newly released CCTV footage shows Air India Flight 171 take off before crashing moments later. CNN aviation analyst Miles O'Brien offers his analysis. 00:56 - Source: CNN Passenger survives Air India plane crash At least one passenger on board Air India Flight 171 to London Gatwick survived, local police said. According to Reuters, senior police officer Vidhi Chaudhary said the man had been in seat 11A and added that there may be a few more survivors in the hospital. 00:19 - Source: CNN Video shows moment plane crashes in India Social media video shows flames and thick smoke billowing into the air, as an Air India passenger plane, carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after takeoff. The plane had departed an airport in Ahmedabad, India and was bound for London's Gatwick Airport. 00:20 - Source: CNN Trump draws boos and cheers at Kennedy Center President Donald Trump drew charged reactions of both admiration and ire at the Kennedy Center's opening night of "Les Misérables." 00:29 - Source: CNN LAPD chief pushes back on Trump CNN's Kaitlan Collins talks with LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell who says he did not support President Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles, despite statements Trump made earlier. 01:33 - Source: CNN Meatpacking employees block ICE cars with their bodies following raid Workers at a meatpacking plant in Omaha Nebraska tried to block ICE agents by throwing themselves on top of the cars to block their path following a raid on the business. More than 70 undocumented people were detained, the largest to take place in Nebraska since the start of the Trump's second term. 01:10 - Source: CNN Elon Musk called President Trump on Monday night expressing regret CNN's Kaitlan Collins reports the latest details on Elon Musk's Monday call with President Donald Trump and what it means for their relationship. 00:57 - Source: CNN Violence enters third day in Northern Ireland Unrest has spread to more towns in Northern Ireland after violence initially started in Ballymena. The third night of disturbances saw a leisure center, that had been recently used to shelter immigrants, set ablaze by masked youths. 00:45 - Source: CNN "Jane' testifies for fifth day in Combs trial 'Jane" continued cross-examination in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial for her fifth day. Prosecutors expect to rest their case at some point next week. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister reports. 02:18 - Source: CNN Trump says why his second term is different from the first In an interview with The New York Post's Pod Force One, President Trump explained why he "can be stronger on an attack on Los Angeles" in his second term compared to his first. Trump also said he told Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, he planned to deploy National Guard troops before doing so. 01:09 - Source: CNN
