Diddy: Guilty of Prostitution, Acquitted of More Serious Charges
Diddy was convicted on prostitution charges but acquitted of extortion and human trafficking in a controversial federal case.
Photo by Nikeush, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted on prostitution-related charges but was acquitted of the more serious extortion and human trafficking charges he faced. A jury found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Combs, one of the most important figures in the modern music industry, faced five charges. These were: two counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution (guilty), one count of racketeering conspiracy (not guilty), and two counts of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation by force, fraud, or coercion (not guilty).
Since the start of this high-profile case, the plaintiffs have presented 34 witnesses against Combs, including two of the music producer's ex-girlfriends. Combs's ex-girlfriends claim he forced them to participate in "sex marathons" with prostitutes he paid for. These encounters, dubbed "freak offs" and "hotel nights" by various media outlets, largely contributed to the case's popularity.
The court's decision means Combs won't face the maximum sentence of spending the rest of his life in prison. However, there's still a possibility the rapper could face two decades in prison, depending on the sentence the judge assigns.
Diddy and The Normalization of Sexual Violence
Federal officials shared with Boston Herald that sex crimes have become “too common” in American society
“New Yorkers and all Americans want an end to this scourge and for those responsible to be held accountable,” said Manhattan-based U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, along with Ricky J. Patel, director of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York.
Combs decided not to testify in her case. The jury, composed primarily of men, found Combs guilty of transporting people across the country for the purpose of prostitution. This is a federal crime under the “Mann’s Law.” The jury did not find that Combs used his considerable resources to violate these individuals' consent, but rather that they all participated of their own free will.
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