What does 'racketeering' mean? One of the main charges Sean 'Diddy' Combs faced explained
But jurors rejected the racketeering claim, the trial's most contentious charge, after deadlocking Tuesday amid "unpersuadable opinions." Legal experts suggest jurors likely didn't see Combs' staff as co-conspirators in a mafia-style operation, a key requirement under the RICO law.
Racketeering charges under the RICO Act require proving a pattern of at least two crimes within 10 years by a structured criminal group. Originally designed to combat the mafia, like convicting Gambino boss John Gotti, RICO has since been applied to cases ranging from R. Kelly's sex trafficking ring to FIFA bribery scandals. Prosecutors claimed Combs' team facilitated crimes like kidnapping, arson, and obstruction. But the jury's acquittal suggests they saw Combs as a "sole individual" rather than the leader of an organized enterprise. Legal analyst Lorraine Gauli-Rufo notes RICO cases demand massive resources to untangle complex criminal webs, and the high bar for proof often leads to overreach. The verdict may chill future trafficking prosecutions against powerful figures.
Despite the acquittals, Combs isn't walking free. He faces up to 10 years per prostitution count under the Mann Act, an anti-sex-trafficking law. Prosecutors seek a 5-year sentence, citing guidelines, while his defense argues for just 2 years. A judge will decide his fate later this year. Immediately after the verdict, Combs knelt in prayer and thanked jurors, but prosecutors urged he remain jailed until sentencing, calling him a danger to victims.
The trial exposed brutal details: Surveillance video showed Combs assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a 2016 hotel attack, and witnesses described him bribing staff $100,000 to hide evidence. Though cleared of the worst charges, Combs' reputation lies in tatters, and his remaining legal battles include multiple civil lawsuits.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' verdict: The music mogul is not guilty on major charges; lawyers announce 'victory'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs, the controversial rapper who had been fighting his case in court, has been found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking allegations involving his ex-girlfriends, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and a woman who is referred to as Jane. However, the 55-year-old has been found guilty of transporting Ventura, Jane, and other people across state lines to engage in prostitution. With the mixed verdict, the music mogul avoids a life sentence in jail, but he can face 20 years of imprisonment for the charges on transportation. Diddy's lawyers requested his bail... Diddy's lawyers requested his bail on a $1 million bond and restrictions to stay at his Miami home and limit his travel, according to NBC. However, Judge Arun Subramanian denied the request, stating that while he has been found not guilty of the pivotal charges, he poses a threat. He referenced Jane's testimony, where Combs choked and dragged her during an argument in June 2024, and issued an order to keep him at Metropolitan Detention Center until his sentencing. The 'All About the Benjamins' rapper's sentence would be decided on October 3, 2025. However, the defence attorneys are looking for a faster timeline, and the judge has set a remote sentencing hearing for July 8. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Diddy's lawyers celebrated the win... Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been incarcerated for about 10 months, including his trial that commenced in May. His attorney, Anna Estevao, called the verdict a 'huge win' for the Bad Boy Records co-founder. 'He was acquitted of sex trafficking, acquitted of RICO conspiracy. He will be able to sleep well at night knowing that,' she said outside the courtroom, according to E! News. The jury's verdict was announced after three days, and the defence lawyers celebrated the win. 'Today is a great victory. It's a great victory for Sean Combs; it's a great victory for the jury system. You saw that the Southern District of New York prosecutors came at him with all that they had. They're not stopping,' Diddy's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said, praising the jury and the music mogul as well, according to Deadline.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Once A Hip-Hop Mogul, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Is Now A Convicted Felon
Even during his federal criminal trial in New York, the descriptions of Sean Combs were frequently those of awe: one former assistant called him "a god among men." "Larger than life," said witnesses over and over -- his accusers included. And that he was, until it all came crashing down. The music and entertainment titan known for his legendary A-list "white parties" had multiple mansions, a private jet, a business empire and scores of accolades. Then in September 2024, he was arrested on sweeping charges including running a criminal ring that allowed him to commit harrowing sexual abuse. And after a two-month long courtroom saga, a jury of 12 New Yorkers on Wednesday found him guilty of two prostitution-related counts -- but acquitted him of more serious allegations of racketeering and sex trafficking. The outcome was not what prosecutors had hoped for -- a decisive conviction for grave crimes that could have kept him incarcerated for life. Nevertheless, even before the blockbuster proceedings began, Combs's reputation was in tatters. The 55-year-old still faces dozens of civil lawsuits in which he is accused of lurid abuse. And even his own team's defence came back to haunt him: the federal judge denied Combs bail as he awaits sentencing, reading back his attorneys' words in which they conceded again and again that he has a record of violence. Rebrands upon rebrands Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records whose proteges included the late Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige, was known as a high-flying, smooth-talking kingpin who ushered hip-hop from the underground to bottle-service clubs. He was continuously rebranding -- his monikers include "Puff Daddy," "P Diddy" and, more recently, "Brother Love." Court proceedings revealed a much seedier side, casting him as a violent, domineering boss whose inner circle helped him live life with impunity. Even before his arrest, the mushrooming accusations and legal action left many of his businesses reeling. There were symbolic measures as well: the city of New York had rescinded the honorary key they had bestowed upon him. But as was clear outside the courthouse throughout the proceedings, he still has a loyal fan base, especially in the city where he made his name. Party boy and hip-hop mogul Born Sean John Combs on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, the artist entered the industry as an intern in 1990 at Uptown Records where he eventually became a talent director. He gained clout as a party planner, which would remain central to his brand. In 1991, he promoted a celebrity basketball game and concert at the City College of New York that ended in a stampede, leaving nine people dead. The event was over-capacity by the thousands and resulted in a string of lawsuits, with Combs blamed for hiring inadequate security. He was fired from Uptown, and founded his own label, Bad Boy Records. Thus began his quick ascent to the top of East Coast hip-hop. The Notorious B.I.G. became the genre's king following the release of his landmark debut album "Ready to Die" in 1994, up until his shock murder in 1997. Combs boasted a number of major signed acts and production collaborations with the likes of Blige, Usher, Lil' Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. He was also a Grammy-winning rapper in his own right, debuting with the chart-topping single "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" and his album "No Way Out." The smash hit single "I'll Be Missing You" was a tribute to Biggie. His other major tracks included "It's All About The Benjamins" and "Been Around the World." He built an image as a brash hustler with unapologetic swagger, a major producer who also ventured into Hollywood, reality television and fashion. He was known as a ladies' man -- he had a high-profile relationship with Jennifer Lopez. 'Next chapters' As recently as 2023, Combs was still on top of the world -- releasing a new album and taking a victory lap as he accepted lifetime honors including a "global icon" award from MTV. But his star plummeted rapidly in November of that year, when his former partner of 11 years, Casandra Ventura, filed a civil suit with a litany of allegations including a 2018 rape. Combs settled the suit almost immediately, but months later, it became clear that federal investigators were trailing him. His mansions were raided and many possessions seized. Then came his arrest and, nearly eight months later, his high-stakes federal trial. Combs's defence conceded that he committed brutal violence. But they insisted that those instances did not amount to the extensive charges he faced -- and won. Combs routinely brought self-help books or Bible passages with him to the courtroom, and his lawyers argue he's an evolving man. He has six adult children, and a two-year-old named Love Sean Combs. "He's been given his life back," his attorney Marc Agnifilo said Wednesday. "He's going to have next chapters of his life."
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
He will sleep well: Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' lawyer after rapper acquitted of sex trafficking charges
After music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges following a high-profile federal trial in New York City, his attorney has spoken out about the verdict, reported E! News. Sean "Diddy" Combs, next to his lawyers Teny Geragos and Marc Agnifilo, reacts after learning he will not be released on bail.(REUTERS) Combs was found guilty of prostitution-related offences but acquitted of his sex trafficking and racketeering charges on July 2. His attorney, Anna Estevao, called the verdict a "huge win" for the music mogul even as he was denied bail, according to E! News. "He was acquitted of sex trafficking, acquitted of RICO conspiracy," she said outside a Manhattan courtroom, adding, "He will be able to sleep well at night knowing that," as per the outlet. Combs' verdict comes after two months of courtroom testimonies from witnesses from his past, including the 55-year-old ex, Cassie Ventura, according to E! News. The split verdict was announced on Wednesday. Combs has been convicted on "two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and could face up to 20 years in prison if he is sentenced to consecutive maximum prison terms." If he had been found guilty of sex trafficking or racketeering, he could have spent the rest of his life behind bars. Combs' legal team said the government failed to prove the major charges. The trial, which began in May, lasted several weeks and included testimony from 34 witnesses. One of them was Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, Combs' former partner of 11 years. She testified while nearly nine months pregnant and spoke in detail about alleged abuse and "Freak Offs" -- which prosecutors described as forced sex events involving male sex workers. Kid Cudi also offered his testimony in Diddy's trial, accusing the Grammy winner of breaking into his home and blowing up his car with a Molotov cocktail in retribution for his brief romance with Ventura in 2012. Meanwhile, though Combs has been acquitted on the most serious counts, the music mogul's legal troubles are far from over, as he still faces several dozen lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.
