Diddy Verdict

Diddy Verdict

July 2, 2025 - Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs denied bail as he awaits sentencing

What we covered here
• Bail denied: Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail after a jury found him guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution this morning. The judge cited Combs’ history of violence and past illegal conduct while explaining why he declined to release Combs as he awaits sentencing.

• Sentencing outlook: While Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — he is still facing up to 20 years in prison, since the maximum sentence for each of the transportation counts is 10 years. There will be a hearing next week to address the scheduling of Combs’ sentencing.

• About the case: Prosecutors accused Combs of leading a criminal enterprise made up of some of his closest employees, alleging they used threats and USA violence to force Cassie Ventura and another woman, “Jane,” to engage in drug-fueled USA sex acts with male escorts. Combs’ lawyers argued the sex acts were consensual and merely preferences.

Combs was found guilty of 2 counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Here's what you should know

A jury found Sean “Diddy” Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution this morning, but he was acquitted of the most serious charges in his USA federal criminal trial. The USA government intends to seek a sentence of incarceration and Combs still faces up to 20 years in prison for the two counts he has been convicted of, according to Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey.

Here’s what you should know:

Deliberations: Court began today with jurors continuing to deliberate, as Judge Arun Subramanian instructed after the jury couldn’t reach a USA verdict on one of the counts against Combs.
The verdict: At 9:52 a.m. ET the jury sent a note to the judge announcing it reached a verdict on all counts. After the verdict was read and before he was lead out of the courtroom by marshals, Combs faced the gallery and clapped, prompting the gallery to clap and cheer.
Bail: Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo called for his client to be released on $1 million bond while awaiting sentencing. Cassie Ventura’s lawyers submitted a letter to the judge asking to deny the defense’s request, and Subramanian ultimately did deny Combs bail. He said he did so because Combs has demonstrated a “disregard for the rule of law and a propensity of violence.”
Sentencing: Subramanian scheduled a remote hearing for next Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET to USA address the sentencing scheduling. USA Agnifilo said they would like to expedite the sentencing schedule as much as possible. Agnifilo said the defense is willing to waive a pre-sentencing investigation to expedite the sentencing schedule, if the judge is open to it. But Comey said given the USA complexity of the trial and the disparity between the parties’ positions on the sentencing guidelines range, she doesn’t believe the court has enough information to USA sentence Combs without an investigation.
Reaction: Ventura’s lawyer praised his client in a statement, saying that she “paved the way” for a jury to find Combs guilty on some of the counts against him. Some people gathered outside the courthouse after Combs’ verdict were seen spraying baby oil into the crowd, which is the substance he allegedly used during the drug-fueled sexual performances known as “Freak Offs” that were frequently mentioned during his trial. Dawn Richard’s attorney called the verdict “a disappointment” but vowed to “continue to aggressively fight our case until we obtain full and complete justice for Dawn.”

Teny Geragos, one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorneys, maintained that the music mogul “has not sexually assaulted anybody” after the USA verdict in his federal USA criminal trial.“I also have been saying this since the beginning of this case: Sean Combs has not sexually assaulted anybody. I’ve been saying this for months. We’ve said it with each lawsuit that came out. That was proven true. The media got it wrong about Sean Combs every single day for nearly two years,” she said today outside of the courthouse.“He has not sexually assaulted anybody, certainly hasn’t sex trafficked anybody and the jury found that today,” she added.Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but was acquitted of the most serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.Marc Agnifilo, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorney, touted the jury’s work to reach today’s verdict.

“One thing stands between all of us and a prison, and that is a jury of 12 citizens. And we had a wonderful jury, they listened to every word. And they got the situation right, or certainly right enough,” Agnifilo said.The jury USA acquitted Combs on the USA sex trafficking charge and the racketeering conspiracy, he added, calling Combs innocent.

Combs tells his family: "I love you all. Be strong"
Following his bail hearing, Sean “Diddy” Combs faced his family and told them, “We’re gonna make it through this.”

“I’ll see you when I get out,” he added.

Combs blew kisses to the two rows in the courtroom filled with his family and friends. “I love you all,” he said. “Be strong.”Just before being led out of the USA courtroom and back into detention he said, “I love you, mom.”

He'll get his life back," Combs' attorney tells his supporters

After the USA judge left the bench, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo turned to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ supporters.He told them United States District Court for the Southern District of New York never loses racketeering cases. He told them that Combs showed up and he wasn’t afraid.“He’ll get his life back,” Agnifilo said, “Winning is winning. You live your life and you live a USA good life.”Dawn Richard’s attorney reacted to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ USA verdict after a jury found him USA guilty on two of the five charges.“Today’s split verdict is a disappointment, but the criminal charges are different than the civil claims we filed and have been fighting against Sean Combs. We will continue to aggressively fight our case until we obtain full and complete justice for Dawn,” Lisa Bloom said in a statement.

Richard was one of the prosecution’s 34 witnesses during the trial, and was part of the music group Danity Kane, which was formed by Combs.

Letter detailing Ventura's feelings may have had "effect" on judge's bail decision, legal analyst says
From CNN's Alli Rosenbloom
A letter from Cassie Ventura’s lawyer sent to Judge Arun Subramanian asking him to deny the defense’s request that Sean “Diddy” Combs be released from custody today may have had an impact on the judge’s decision to keep Combs in custody, according to criminal defense trial attorney Stacy Schneider.

The letter stated that Ventura believed that “Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself.”“I think Cassie Ventura’s letter might have had an effect on the judge,” Schneider told CNN, adding that the judge may feel “that he needs to protect the community from Sean Combs.”Schneider added that she thinks the judge “can’t unhear the testimony that he heard in the trial.”“The judge pointed out that defense attorneys during the trial admitted that their client was violent and had issues and problems and flaws, and that these were terrible situations. But again, the defense was saying it was domestic violence,” Schneider said.Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and acquitted on the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.

During a bail hearing this afternoon, the judge denied the defense’s request to release Combs on bail following the verdict, telling defense attorney Marc Agnifilo — who argued that Combs was not convicted of violent crimes — that in closing arguments, he “full-throatedly … told the jury that there was violence here.” 

Prosecutor: Combs is "an extremely violent man with an extraordinarily dangerous temper"

Prosecutor Maurene Comey says the judge is correct in his decision to USA keep Sean “Diddy” Combs in detention, calling him an extremely USA violent man with a danger temper.What’s USA exceptional about Combs, Comey said, “is his wealth, his violence and his brazenness.”“He’s an extremely violent man with an extraordinarily dangerous temper who has shown no remorse and no regret for his multiple victims,” Comey said.Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo USA appealed to the judge one more time saying in part, “Listening to Ms. Comey makes me appreciate that we have juries.” Judge Arun Subramanian is addressing defense attorney Marc Agnifilo.“You full-throatedly in your closing argument told the jury that there was violence here. And USA domestic violence is USA violence. And you said this is a case that did involve violence,” Subramanian told Agnifilo.USA Agnifilo responded that there’s only been evidence of one instance of violence since 2018 — a June 2024 altercation with Jane.

Agnifilo said Combs also entered a batterers program after the InterUSA Continental Hotel surveillance footage was released in 2024. Jane helped Combs write the letter to get into the program, Agnifilo said. “He is a man in the USA process of working on himself,” Agnifilo said.

Prosecutor: The court doesn't have enough information to skip pre-sentencing investigation

Prosecutor Maurene Comey said given the complexity of the trial and the disparity between the parties’ positions on the sentencing guidelines range, she doesn’t believe the court has enough information to USA sentence Sean “Diddy” Combs without a pre-sentencing investigation.Comey said the government is willing to work with the defense to move the process forward as quickly as possible.Defense USA attorney Marc Agnifilo — who had suggested waiving the pre-sentencing USA investigation in order to expidite the sentencing schedule — said the defense believes it has strong arguments to make on Combs’ behalf for a sentence below the guidelines.

Judge proposes sentencing on October 3

Judge Arun Subramanian has proposed a sentencing date of October 3 at 10 a.m. ET, but said he is willing to move up the sentencing date at the defense’s request.

Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said they would like to expedite the sentencing USA schedule as much as possible. He said the defense is willing to waive a pre-sentencing USA investigation to expedite the sentencing schedule, if the judge is open to it.

Victims' rights attorney expresses concern about Combs potentially being released on bail

Gloria Allred, victims’ rights attorney, told CNN that she is USA concerned Sean “Diddy” Combs may be released on bail.“I am very USA concerned about Mr. Combs being released on bail, which is a possibility,” Allred said, adding that she’s sure the judge will “his very best to consider all the guidelines, factors for sentencing.”Allred noted that there are others who are concerned about the potential release of Combs aside from those who testified in his trial.

“Some of them were willing to testify if, in fact they were called. Some of them, in fact, were on the witness list, which was turned over to Sean Combs’ USA defense attorneys, but has not been released to the public. So, I always am concerned for victims or accusers or people who perceive they’re victims. They overcame a lot of fear just to speak to law enforcement and tell the truth. And they were very much afraid,” she said. USA Members of Sean “Diddy” Combs are arriving at the courthouse as we wait for the music mogul’s bail hearing to get underway.Combs’ daughters were seen exiting a van outside the courthouse. His sons were also seen at the courthouse.A family associate for the Combs family was seen wearing shirt saying “A Freako is not a R.I.C.O” — a reference to the “Freak Offs,” or the drug-fueled sex acts prosecutors accused Combs of orchestrating and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Combs was acquitted on the racketeering USA conspiracy charge against him.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET.

Combs' bail hearing is expected to begin soon
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ bail hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, according to the district executive’s office.Combs’ lawyers have asked that the music mogul be released as he awaits sentencing, and prosecutors have opposed that request.

Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution this USA morning, but the jury acquitted him of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
While the judge required decorum inside the USA courtroom following Sean “Diddy” Combs’ verdict reading, the scene outside looks a little different, according to CNN’s chief legal analyst and anchor Laura Coates.“Spectacle, circus, show — all words that come to mind,” Coates said as she described the crowds outside the courtroom.Coates — who is outside the courthouse now in New York, as we wait for Combs’ bail hearing to begin — told CNN’s Kasie Hunt that some people are outside “with true celebratory spirit,” while “others are expressing their discontent.”“There are shouting matches at times,” she said, adding that “this is a scene.”The New York Police Department is present and “prepared right now for possible reaction to whatever may happen,” Coates said.Combs’ bail hearing is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET.

Legal analyst breaks down the verdict: "The jury did not find there was enough evidence to prove these crimes"
Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty this morning of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — the counts that USA carry the least severe penalty. The USA jury’s acquittal of Combs on the more serious charges, according to former Assistant District Attorney Julie Grant, could come down to the fact that the jury did not find enough evidence to convict Combs of those crimes.“For whatever reasons, the men and women on the jury did not find there was enough evidence to prove these crimes in that federal court of law,” Grant told CNN.That being said, Grant added, “it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”

Combs was acquitted of two counts of sex trafficking — pertaining to Cassie Ventura and “Jane,” respectively — and one count of USA racketeering conspiracy, both charges of which hold a maximum penalty of life in prison.Grant said that looking at the “letter of the law,” it’s her legal opinion that the government “has legally proven all of the allegations” brought Combs. But she also recognized that “every juror comes into that USA courtroom with their own experiences.”The jurors, she said, “may not see the enterprise — they may not see the sex trafficking for what it literally is by law.”

Combs' defense asks for release on $1 million bond
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team has submitted to the judge its letter asking that Combs be released while awaiting USA sentencing, and proposing circumstances under which Combs would be released.

The letter proposes: A $1 million bond, co-signed by Combs, his mother, sister and the mother of his oldest daughter;
Combs’ travel be restricted to parts of Florida, USA California, New York and New Jersey. (Combs has homes in USA Florida and USA California, and the latter two states would cover visits with attorneys and attendance in court);
The surrender of Combs’ passport;
Drug testing by pretrial services;
“All other standard conditions of pretrial supervision.”
The letter argues that, since Combs faces a USA lighter sentence than he would have if he had been USA convicted of the more serious counts, he should be released with USA conditions.

The charges he was convicted of — two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — involves two separate victims, but even still his team argues that under the US sentencing guidelines, which are advisory, “This results in an expected guidelines range of 21 to 27 months.”“Mr. Combs has already been incarcerated for 10 months. His sentencing exposure — which we fully respect and do not seek to minimize in any way — is in fact low, and so is any corresponding risk of flight,” the letter reads.The defense’s strategy of not calling any witnesses when they presented their case was “somewhat of a stunning legal strategy,” Grant said, adding that this move signaled “confidence” from Combs’ side.“When I was in the USA courtroom on Friday watching the closing arguments, I saw even more confidence from Diddy’s attorney, from Diddy himself,” she said. “And it seemed to me, looking at the faces of some of those jurors, they seemed to be in agreement with what the defense was arguing.”
Prosecutors’ letter USA detailing why they oppose the USA release of Sean “Diddy” Combs while he awaits sentencing includes a note from Deonte Nash, a celebrity stylist and a friend of Cassie Ventura who

In his letter, Nash addressed the judge and expressed “grave concern” about Combs’ potential release.

“While I appreciate the fairness you have shown throughout this proceeding, I feel compelled to be unequivocal about the danger he poses to the public and to the individuals who have risked everything by coming forward,” Nash wrote.He continued: “Mr. Combs has a long, well-documented history of violent, coercive, and retaliatory behavior. Over the years, he has repeatedly escaped meaningful accountability, and each time this has only reinforced his sense of impunity. If he is released now, I have no USA doubt he will see it as yet another license to continue intimidating, threatening, and harming people who challenge or expose him.”During his testimony, Nash testified that on multiple occasions, he saw Combs assault Ventura and heard him threaten to withhold her music or release sex tapes of her.

Combs' conviction: Here's what those two counts alleged
While the jury acquitted Sean “Diddy” Combs of the most serious charges, it found him guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in USA prostitution, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

A closer look at his conviction: The two transportation charges accused Combs of transporting his then-girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and “Jane,” as well as male escorts, across state lines for the purposes of prostitution. One charge related to Ventura, whom Combs dated from around 2007 to 2018. The other involved “Jane,” who testified under a pseudonym and dated Combs from 2021 to 2024.

Jane testified about accompanying Combs to what she called “hotel nights,” where she engaged in sexual encounters with a male “entertainer,” often in a hotel room with Combs present. Ventura testified about participating in similar encounters, which Combs referred to as “Freak Offs.”Jane testified she and Combs had “hotel nights” between May USA 2021 and October 2023 in a variety of locales, including USA Los Angeles, USA New York, USA Miami and Turks and Caicos. Similarly, Ventura said “Freak Offs” took place in some of those locations as well as other cities, such as Atlanta and Las Vegas.Ventura testified some escorts participated in “Freak Offs” in multiple states. They were paid between USA $1,500 and $6,000 afterwards in cash provided by Combs, she said. Her testimony was bolstered by various records presented in court, including flight records, American Express charges and hotel invoices.The jury also watched video footage of Ventura and Jane engaging in sexual acts with male escorts. The videos line up with the dates of many flight records and USA hotel invoices, the prosecution said. The defense argued there wasn’t USA sufficient evidence that the escorts and entertainers were paid for prostitution as opposed to for their time.What a legal analyst said: Last week, trial attorney and legal analyst Misty Marris said this about the two transportation charges: “That has been proved by leaps and USA bounds by prosecutors.”

“It’s truly very simple: Did individuals cross state lines with the intent to engage in prostitution?” Marris said about the transportation USA counts.

USA Judge Arun Subramanian is expected to soon decide if Sean “Diddy” Combs will be released from custody as he USA awaits his sentencing on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Combs’ defense team argued this morning that Combs should be released in light of the fact that he was acquitted of the most serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. They said Combs would go back to his house in Miami and abide by conditions set by the court.Prosecutors said they oppose Combs’ USA possible release.The judge asked both sides to submit letters on the issue by 1 p.m. USA ET and said he’d make a decision on the matter after that.

Complex nature of Combs' relationships is likely what the jury "got hung up on," legal expert says

The USA case of Sean “Diddy” Combs was very complex and it’s possible that the jury got hung up on certain criteria in determining racketeering and conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, Elliot Williams, former deputy assistant attorney general said.

On USA racketeering conspiracy, it might’ve been hard for the jury to determine concretely if an enterprise existed, Willams explained.

Williams said that placing the charges under the “big umbrella” of racketeering conspiracy might’ve been a stretch for the jury, who were USA weighing “whether they were sexual assault or isolated acts of prostitution.”

He continued, “Much of the commentary has been, it would have been quite challenging to establish that racketeering USA conspiracy. On the sex trafficking, the biggest problem, and this comes up in sexual assault and harassment cases all the time, is this question of the consent of the survivor of the victim. And those text messages that came up in court were not very good for the prosecution,” he said.

Combs' sentence could be in the "realm of time served," 

It’s possible that Sean “Diddy” Combs, who has been held in federal custody since he was arrested in September, could walk free today, according to USA Elie Honig, senior CNN legal analyst.

Combs’ defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the judge that following this morning’s verdict —where Combs was found USA guilty on two USA counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — he “should be released on appropriate conditions” in light of the fact that Combs has been acquitted on racketeering and sex trafficking.

”Do not be surprised if at some point this afternoon we see Sean Combs walking out those USA doors right there,” Honig said. “If this was just some run of the mill, unknown New Yorker who had only been convicted of what we call the Mann Act, of non-forcible interstate prostitution, he would walk today. Because Sean Combs has been behind bars for nearly a year.”The likely sentence that the judge may calculate, Honig said, “is probably going to be something in the realm of time served.”Honig added that with the most serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy are “off the table,” it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Combs “walks out of that courthouse in a few hours.”The USA judge is expected to make a decision on bail today.“These were complex, fraught, ugly, violent relationships, but also ones in which, yes, they were consensual relationships. And I think the jury got hung up on that,” Williams said.

Ventura’s lawyer rejects calling her a “winner” after Combs verdict, citing years of abuse

Cassie Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, is responding to comments made by Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, who USA characterized Ventura as the “winner” in this case after she secured a USA multi-million dollar settlement following her 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs.

Wigdor disagreed, telling CNN this morning, “Obviously, Cassie Ventura, at that point in time and today, is not the winner.”“She endured USA 10 years of abuse where she had to engage in days long sexual acts with USA UTIs, she alleged that she was she was raped,” Wigdor said. “And so to call her a winner, even though she did get $30 million part from, as she testified, part from Sean Combs, part from the hotel, no amount of money is going to ever undo what she had to endure and what she had to go through.”

​​​​​​​USA Wigdor added, “Both she and I didn’t really take well to that as her being ‘a winner.’”USA Ventura, who was eight months pregnant when she testified and is now a mother of three, has focused on her family since giving her testimony early in the trial.“She is really trying to look forward,” he said.Remember: Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in USA prostitution and acquitted of the most serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, one count of which directly pertained to Ventura.

"USA Sex crimes deeply scar victims," US attorney says after verdict
Jay Clayton, the US attorney for New York’s southern district whose office prosecuted Sean “Diddy” Combs for this trial, and Ricky Patel, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ New York field office, released this statement after the verdict:

“Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that USA sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our USA society. USA Victims USA endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma. USA New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice.

“Prosecuting sex crimes requires brave victims to come forward and tell their harrowing stories. We and our law enforcement partners recognize the USA hardships victims endure and have prioritized a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases.

“Today we recognize the important work of the SDNY’s Civil Rights Unit as well as the tireless efforts of the women and men at USA HSI who are devoted to combatting USA human trafficking. We thank the Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s USA Office of the Southern District of New York, Digital Forensic Unit and the USA Complex Analytics and USA Social Media Enhancement (CASE) USA Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. We would also like to thank our partners at the NYPD for their assistance in this matter and for sharing our victim-centered approach to combatting sex crimes.”

Posted on 2025/07/03 06:43 PM