After a high-stakes federal trial filled with disturbing allegations, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty of transporting women for prostitution but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering, a shocking split verdict that spares him a life sentence but leaves his legacy tarnished and his future deeply uncertain.

In a dramatic end to one of the most high-profile celebrity trials of the decade, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty of transporting two women for the purposes of prostitution but was acquitted of the far more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

The verdict was handed down on July 2, 2025, in a packed federal courtroom in Manhattan, closing a seven-week trial that peeled back the curtain on decades of alleged abuse, excess, and exploitation behind the multimillion-dollar empire of one of hip-hop’s most powerful figures.

The jury, made up of seven women and five men, deliberated for three days before reaching what Judge Arun Subramanian described as a “legally and morally complex” split decision.

They found Combs not guilty on three counts—sex trafficking of two women and operating a criminal enterprise—but returned guilty verdicts on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution, based on incidents involving singer and ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another woman identified in court as “Jane.”

Both women gave emotional testimony during the trial, accusing Combs of subjecting them to degrading and controlling behavior masked under the guise of lavish parties and celebrity privilege.

The courtroom was tense as the verdicts were read. Combs, dressed in a dark navy suit and flanked by his attorneys, showed little visible reaction but quietly turned to his mother and whispered, “Love you, Mom.”

His legal team embraced briefly before addressing reporters outside the courthouse. Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ lead attorney, told the press, “We are gratified the jury saw through the most explosive and unfounded accusations. We will appeal the remaining charges vigorously.”

The charges stemmed from a sprawling investigation that began in 2023 and led to Combs’ arrest in September 2024.

Federal prosecutors painted a disturbing portrait of Combs as the orchestrator of what they described as “decades of depravity,” alleging that he operated a covert network of sex parties, facilitated drug use, paid male escorts, and used intimidation to silence his accusers.

Prosecutors leaned heavily on the testimony of Cassie Ventura, who had already made headlines in 2023 when she filed a civil suit accusing Combs of physical and emotional abuse during their 11-year relationship. That case was settled privately, but the criminal charges continued to loom.

In her testimony, Ventura recounted harrowing episodes of abuse, including one caught on surveillance video in a Los Angeles hotel where Combs appeared to shove and drag her down a hallway.

She also described being coerced into sexual encounters with male prostitutes, under the pretext of pleasing Combs or preserving her career. “He made me feel like I owed him everything,” Ventura told the jury through tears. “And if I didn’t give it, I’d lose everything.”

The second woman, “Jane,” described a similar pattern: lavish gifts, invitations to Combs’ notorious “Freak Off” parties, and an eventual spiral into emotional and sexual manipulation.

Both women claimed they were flown between New York, Miami, and Los Angeles for events that blurred the line between personal and professional, pleasure and power, consent and coercion.

Still, the defense challenged the reliability of their accounts. Agnifilo argued that the relationships, while complicated and sometimes toxic, were ultimately consensual.

He pointed to messages and photos that allegedly showed affection and collaboration between Combs and his accusers long after the supposed abuses took place.

He also claimed that the prosecution had overstated the structure and scale of any so-called “enterprise,” asserting, “This is not RICO. This is a famous man with bad judgment and messy relationships.”

In the end, the jury appeared to agree with that distinction. They rejected the broader framework of organized sex trafficking but found that Combs had knowingly transported Ventura and Jane for commercial sexual activity—charges that, while less severe, still carry significant consequences.

Each count could result in up to 10 years in federal prison, though sentencing guidelines suggest Combs could face closer to 15 to 21 months, especially since he has already spent 10 months behind bars awaiting trial.

Judge Subramanian has set sentencing for October 3, 2025, and has denied Combs’ request for bail.

“The nature of the crimes, the credible threats to witnesses, and the risk of flight all weigh heavily against release,” he ruled. Combs will remain at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has been held since last fall.

Reactions to the verdict were swift and sharply divided. Some fans expressed relief that Combs avoided the most damaging charges, while critics argued that even the guilty verdicts fell short of justice for the dozens of women who have come forward with allegations.

As of July 2025, Combs still faces over 30 civil lawsuits alleging rape, sexual misconduct, battery, and emotional abuse spanning from 1995 to 2022. His attorneys have vowed to fight them all, calling the lawsuits “financially motivated” and “meritless.”

Among those celebrating the outcome were Cassie Ventura’s legal team, who issued a statement lauding her courage. “Cassie stood up when it mattered most,” said attorney Douglas Wigdor. “Her testimony didn’t just expose abuse—it led directly to a conviction.”

Activists praised her decision to testify despite an earlier settlement, calling it a turning point in the fight against gender-based violence in the music industry.

Meanwhile, the music world is left grappling with the legacy of a man who once defined an era. From launching the careers of The Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige to creating the hit TV series Making the Band, Combs helped shape modern hip-hop and R&B.

He amassed a fortune estimated at over $800 million through fashion, liquor, and media ventures. But in 2023, just as he was planning a “Love” rebrand and a comeback album, the first legal dominos began to fall.

Now, with his empire fractured, his reputation irreparably damaged, and a prison sentence looming, the future of Diddy—as an artist, entrepreneur, and public figure—remains clouded.

What is clear is that the trial, the testimonies, and the verdict have etched an indelible mark not just on Combs’ legacy, but on the cultural reckoning that continues to ripple through the entertainment world.