Diddy trial: Jury remains deadlocked on top charge
‘Diddy’ Combs finds out jurors are split on the racketeering charge. Pic: Reuters/Jane Rosenberg
In a dramatic turn of events at the federal courthouse in New York, the jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial has reached a verdict on four of the five counts against him, but remains deadlocked on the most serious charge: racketeering conspiracy. The hip-hop mogul, 55, appeared visibly subdued as the news was delivered, holding his head in his hands at one point.
After two days of deliberation, the panel of eight men and four women informed Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, that they had reached unanimous decisions on two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, they were unable to come to an agreement on the racketeering charge, with jurors on both sides holding firm opinions. The verdicts for the four agreed-upon counts have not yet been made public.
The racketeering conspiracy charge is the most complex and carries the most significant potential penalty – a maximum sentence of life in prison. Legal experts, including criminal defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor Robert Mintz, have stated that this charge was always going to be the most challenging for prosecutors to secure a conviction on, noting its typical use in organized crime prosecutions. To convict on this count, prosecutors must prove that Mr. Combs established a criminal enterprise and engaged in a coordinated plan with at least one other person to commit at least two crimes over several years, potentially including offenses like kidnapping, arson, and bribery.
Judge Subramanian, after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and Mr. Combs’ defense team, urged the jurors to continue deliberating on the outstanding racketeering charge. Deliberations are set to resume on Wednesday morning, July 2, and could even extend into July 3, despite the approaching July 4th public holiday.
Throughout the two-month trial, the jury heard testimony from 34 witnesses, including ex-girlfriends like Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another former girlfriend identified as “Jane” (who testified under a pseudonym), former employees, male escorts, and federal agents. Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Combs used his fame and power to coerce Ms. Ventura and “Jane” into “drug-fueled sex sessions” with male sex workers, referred to as “freak-offs,” “wild king nights,” or “hotel nights.” They also presented evidence of alleged physical violence and blackmail. A former employee, “Mia” (also testifying under a pseudonym), also alleged sexual assault by the rapper.
Mr. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense team chose not to call any witnesses, instead focusing on lengthy cross-examinations of the prosecution’s witnesses, arguing that prosecutors were attempting to criminalize what they described as a consensual “swingers lifestyle.”
Should Mr. Combs be convicted on the sex trafficking charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
As the jury prepares to re-enter deliberations, the tension in the courtroom remains palpable. Mr. Combs, who has also been known by names such as Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Love, and Brother Love, appeared to draw strength from his family and supporters in the audience, blowing a kiss and tapping his heart as he left the courtroom. He exchanged a few words with his mother, Janice Combs, telling her, “Love you” and “I’ll be all right.” The world now watches as the jury continues its difficult task of reaching a full and unanimous verdict.
