Diddy Cleared of Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Charges, Convicted on Two Lesser Counts

A federal jury delivered a split decision in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-profile criminal case Wednesday morning, finding the hip-hop mogul not guilty of the most severe allegations against him—including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy—but convicting him on two counts tied to prostitution.

The verdict comes after tense deliberations that began Tuesday and stretched into the following morning. Jurors initially returned with decisions on all but one charge—racketeering conspiracy—before being ordered back to the deliberation room. Within hours, they reached a unanimous conclusion.

The jury cleared Combs of all charges that carried potential life sentences, including the most damaging accusation: sex trafficking. However, they found him guilty on two counts of “transportation to engage in prostitution,” a federal crime with a maximum penalty of 10 years per count.

While the not guilty verdicts spare Combs from a possible life behind bars, the convictions are still serious. Prosecutors argued that the charges stemmed from incidents in which Combs arranged interstate travel for individuals for sexual purposes, using his industry power and private resources to facilitate it.