By Martin Shwenk Leade
APFile photo: Sean Combs
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop mogul who turned his music and fashion empire into a billion-dollar legacy, was acquitted Wednesday of the most serious charges against him, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. But despite the acquittal, Combs still faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty on two counts related to prostitution. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, meaning the 55-year-old music icon could still spend significant time behind bars. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian will decide Combs’ fate at a later sentencing hearing. The mixed verdict spares Combs from a potential life sentence, but the convictions mark a serious blow to his public image and legal standing. Combs was among the most powerful entertainment figures to be swept up in the post-#MeToo reckoning, joining the ranks of disgraced names like Harvey Weinstein and R. Kelly. Prosecutors alleged that Combs leveraged his wealth, influence, and business infrastructure to coerce women into sex acts and silence them through threats, violence, and hush money. Though cleared of sex trafficking, testimony from two former girlfriends painted a disturbing picture: both claimed Combs forced them to participate in drug-fueled orgies with male prostitutes鈥攕ometimes referred to as 鈥淔reak Offs鈥濃攚hile he watched, filmed, or masturbated. Combs pleaded not guilty to all five felony counts. Since his arrest in September, he has remained in custody at a Brooklyn detention facility鈥攁 far cry from his luxurious residences in Los Angeles and Miami. Throughout the trial, Combs’ mother and several of his children were seen attending court, showing family support amid a very public fall from grace.Live EventsYou Might Also Like:Sean Diddy Combs not guilty! Hip-hop mogul acquitted of most serious charges, convicted for prostitution-related offense Born in Harlem and raised by a single mother after his father’s death, Combs dropped out of Howard University to pursue music. He rose through the ranks at Uptown Records before founding Bad Boy Records in 1993, launching the careers of artists like Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Usher. Beyond music, Combs cultivated an image of opulence鈥攜achts, diamonds, and extravagant parties鈥攚hile dating high-profile figures like Jennifer Lopez and launching ventures like Sean John and Revolt TV. In 2022, Forbes estimated his net worth at over $1 billion, though Fortune later reported it had dropped to around $400 million by 2024, partly due to legal troubles. Combs鈥 business empire, prosecutors alleged, also served as a mechanism for control. Testimony revealed that employees helped arrange the sex acts and maintain the secrecy around them. Both accusers鈥攕inger Casandra 鈥淐assie鈥 Ventura and another woman identified as Jane鈥攖old jurors they were physically abused and manipulated with threats of leaked sex tapes or withdrawal of financial support. Defense lawyers admitted that Combs was abusive but insisted that the sexual acts were consensual. They presented explicit messages from the accusers to argue that the relationships, while toxic, were not criminal. Even as the criminal trial ends, Combs faces a wave of civil litigation. Ventura filed a high-profile lawsuit against him in late 2023 alleging rape and repeated abuse. The case was settled the next day for $20 million. Several other civil suits鈥攆iled by both women and men鈥攔emain pending.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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