Diddy Convicted of Prostitution Offenses, Acquitted of Racketeering and Sex Trafficking

Sean “Diddy” Combs, a prominent figure in the hip-hop industry, has had a tumultuous journey from being one of the most agile entrepreneurs to facing serious legal challenges. Over the past two decades, Combs built a vast business empire that included a record label, fashion brand, TV network, and various other ventures. However, his career took a dramatic turn when he was charged with forcing, threatening, and manipulating two ex-girlfriends into drug-fueled sex marathons, with the assistance of a network of associates.

Combs denied the allegations and went to trial in a high-stakes federal sex crimes and racketeering case. The trial concluded with a verdict that his attorneys deemed a victory: Combs was convicted of prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of higher-level charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. This outcome significantly reduced his potential prison sentence, which a judge will determine in the coming months. His lead lawyer described the verdict as “a victory of all victories.”

Combs' journey began in 1990 when, as a student at Howard University, he secured an internship at Uptown Records in New York. By 1993, after being fired from Uptown, he established his own label, Bad Boy, which quickly secured a lucrative deal with Arista Records. Bad Boy released Notorious B.I.G.’s album “Ready to Die” in 1994, marking a significant milestone in Combs' career. However, his rise was not without controversy. In 1996, he was convicted of criminal mischief after allegedly threatening a photographer with a gun. In 1999, he was arrested on gun possession charges after a nightclub shooting in New York City.

Despite these setbacks, Combs continued to achieve success. In 1998, he won two Grammys for his debut album “No Way Out” and the single “I’ll Be Missing You” with Faith Evans. He also founded the Sean John fashion line. In 2001, Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the nightclub shooting, and he announced his desire to be known as P. Diddy. In 2002, he became the producer and star of “Making the Band,” a talent search TV show. In 2004, he performed at the Super Bowl halftime show and won a Grammy for best rap performance by a duo or group for “Shake Ya Tailfeather.”

In 2005, Combs changed his stage name to Diddy. In 2008, he settled a lawsuit brought by a man who claimed Combs punched him after a post-Oscar party and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2015, he was arrested after a confrontation on the campus of UCLA, where one of his sons played football, but the assault charges were later dropped. In 2016, he launched a Harlem charter school and donated $1 million to Howard University. In 2017, he was named the top earner on Forbes’ list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities, bringing in $130 million in a single year. In 2018, his former girlfriend and the mother of three of his children, Kim Porter, died from pneumonia at age 47. In 2022, he received a lifetime honor at the BET Awards.

In 2023, Combs released “The Love Album — Off the Grid,” his first solo studio project since 2006’s chart-topping “Press Play.” However, his year took a dark turn when R&B singer Cassie sued him, alleging abuse, including beatings and rape. The lawsuit was settled under undisclosed terms, and Combs denied the accusations. Two more women accused Combs of sexual abuse in lawsuits, and dozens of additional lawsuits followed by women and men who accused Combs of rape, sexual assault, and other attacks. Combs denied all the allegations.

In 2024, federal agents searched Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Florida. In May, CNN aired video that showed Combs attacking and beating Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. Two days later, Combs posted videos on social media apologizing for the assault. In September, Combs was arrested at his Manhattan hotel on a federal sex trafficking and racketeering indictment that accused him of using his business empire to coerce women into participating in sexual performances. Combs denied the allegations, and his attorney called it an unjust prosecution of an “imperfect person.”

In 2025, jury selection began for Combs’ trial, and a jury was selected and testimony began. Jury deliberations began in June, and on July 2, the jury convicted Combs of prostitution-related offenses but acquitted him of higher-level charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. The outcome significantly reduced his potential prison sentence, which a judge will determine in the coming months. Combs was visibly relieved by the verdict, and his lead lawyer called it “a victory of all victories.”