Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty of two of the five charges he confronted in his racketeering conspiracy and intercourse trafficking trial on Wednesday, marking the top to a 10-week trial.
The jury discovered Combs responsible on two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution — one every for his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and for an additional former girlfriend who testified beneath the pseudonym “Jane.”
However Combs was discovered not responsible of racketeering conspiracy, essentially the most severe cost, and each intercourse trafficking counts, every of which carried a compulsory minimal of 15 years in jail.
Tune into ABC at 10/9c Wednesday for an ABC Information particular, “Verdict: The Diddy Trial,” on the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, and streaming subsequent day on Hulu and Disney+.
Rapper P. Diddy arrives for the Self-importance Honest Oscar Social gathering in Beverly Hills, Calif. April 3, 2018.
Danny Moloshok/Reuters
This is what’s subsequent for the rap mogul:
Will Combs attraction?
Combs’ authorized workforce has but to point whether or not Combs will attraction, however ABC Information authorized contributor Brian Buckmire mentioned he would not see it as a probable choice.
“Will he attraction? Certain, that is his proper to take action. However I do not see an attraction right here. I feel you are taking this as a win, you serve the few years that you could be get, and you’ll be pleased you did not get life,” Buckmire informed ABC Information Dwell.
Sentencing
In response to the United States Sentencing Commission, “knowingly transporting people to interact in prostitution or any unlawful or sexual exercise,” which incorporates makes an attempt to move people, has a 10-year most penalty — which means Combs might resist 20 years in jail for his two counts. However sentencing might be shorter for the rap mogul.
Citing the federal sentencing pointers, prosecutors within the trial argued Combs needs to be sentenced to 51 to 63 months in jail — round 4 to 5 years. Protection attorneys argued the rules level towards a sentence of 21 to 27 months — round two years.
“I do not assume he’ll see greater than 5 years,” mentioned Michael Bachner, a white-collar legal protection lawyer and former prosecutor. He famous the federal sentencing pointers counsel a roughly two- to three-year sentence.
He has already served about 9 months whereas awaiting his trial, which can be subtracted from the sentence.
Janice Combs mom of Sean “Diddy” Combs, provides a thumbs up as she departs together with her youngsters and members of the family at Manhattan’s Federal Court docket as jury reached a full verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial, July 2, 2025, in New York Metropolis.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP through Getty Photographs
Buckmire known as the decision a “huge win” for Combs, since he was discovered not responsible of racketeering, which had a life sentence as a chance. Despite the fact that he was discovered responsible within the counts involving transportation to interact in prostitution, Buckmire mentioned “the minimal is nothing” and that he would seemingly be sentenced within the vary of about three to 6 years complete.
“Sean Combs, going to trial the place he was dealing with life, and having the ability to stroll out with one thing beneath 10 years, effectively beneath 10 years probably, that may be a victory,” Buckmire mentioned.
Combs was denied bail by the choose throughout a listening to Wednesday night following his conviction on two counts.
Previous to being denied bail, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, argued for Combs to be launched on Wednesday. If granted by the choose, Combs’ journey can be confined to the states the place he has properties and he must give up his passport.
“He needs to be launched on applicable situations. … He ought to be capable of return to his residence,” Agnifilo mentioned on Wednesday.
The prosecution argued he needs to be saved in jail awaiting sentencing, saying the federal government plans to pursue “important incarceration” for Combs.
“Offenses of conviction represent crimes of violence and mandate detention following the defendant’s conviction,” prosecutors mentioned in a submitting forward of a 5 p.m. bail listening to.
Moreover, they argue Combs is a flight threat and a hazard, regardless of the protection’s assertions in any other case. The prosecution included a letter from the lawyer for his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, saying Combs “is prone to pose a hazard to the victims who testified on this case, together with herself, in addition to to the group.”
U.S. District Choose Arun Subramanian set Combs’ sentencing on two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution for Oct. 3 at 10 a.m.
Civil lawsuits
Combs can be dealing with dozens of civil lawsuits, together with a distinguished one from former Danity Kane band member Daybreak Richard, who accused the rap mogul of terrorizing and sexually abusing her. She additionally mentioned that she witnessed Combs beating Ventura.
Richard, who testified within the trial, sued Combs in 2024 for assault, copyright infringement and false imprisonment, alleging — amongst different issues — that he groped her on quite a few events and compelled her to endure inhumane work situations. Combs denied all the allegations and his attorneys in Might filed a movement to dismiss the case.
Following the decision, Lisa Bloom, the lawyer for Richard, mentioned in an announcement: “At the moment’s break up verdict is a disappointment, however the legal expenses are totally different than the civil claims we filed and have been combating towards Sean Combs. We’ll proceed to aggressively struggle our case till we get hold of full and full justice for Daybreak.”
These will play out unbiased of his legal proceedings.
Profession and wealth
For many years, Combs was among the many most influential entertainers and music entrepreneurs within the enterprise, however the standing of his profession and wealth after this trial stays unsure.
When federal prosecutors unsealed their indictment towards Combs in September, the allegations known as for the forfeiture of his property within the occasion of a conviction.
A person holding a Sean John T-shirt, an organization created by Sean “Diddy” Combs, reacts outdoors the U.S. federal court docket, after the jury reached verdicts within the Sean “Diddy” Combs intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, in New York Metropolis, July 2, 2025.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters
With Combs being responsible on transportation expenses, property like his non-public jet — if used to move intercourse staff or purchasers — might be seized, an skilled informed ABC Information.
If he’s launched and decides to return to working within the leisure business, Combs might face challenges reserving venues and establishing endorsements or company partnerships, Jeff Apruzzese, professor of the music business at Drexel College, told ABC News.
Combs might additionally face issue garnering invitations to award exhibits and signing new artists to document offers, limiting his alternate pathways to earnings, Aprussese mentioned.
ABC Information’ Peter Charalambous, Aaron Katersky, Jared Kofsky, Josh Margolin and Max Zahn contributed to this report.
