Sean Diddy Combs Acquitted of Racketeering, Faces 10 Years for Prostitution

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the renowned music mogul and former cellmate of Sam Bankman-Fried, was acquitted of the most serious charges against him in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday. Combs was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking charges brought against him by federal prosecutors on July 2. However, he was found guilty of prostitution-related offenses tied to his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison, but prosecutors are expected to push for a lesser sentence. Jail time is based mainly on sentencing guidelines and is at the discretion of the federal judge overseeing the case.

Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York City, where he previously lived in the same prison block as former crypto kingpin Sam Bankman-Fried. According to a report, Bankman-Fried and Combs were being held in a “barrack-style area” that housed no more than 20 inmates who may have required “special detention” due to their high-profile status. MDC is known for heightened violence and poor conditions, with several stabbings taking place just last year. In one instance, inmates have regularly dealt with delayed medical care, aging infrastructure, and “frequent lockdowns due to violence.”

With federal prison time already under Combs’ belt, the rapper’s legal defense is set to push for no more time served. Bankman-Fried, meanwhile, is continuing his sentence at Terminal Island FCI in his home state of California after a recent interview conducted from his cell at MDC. The former “king of crypto” is serving 25 years for orchestrating a massive digital asset scheme that saw over $8 billion worth of customer funds stolen.

Cassie Ventura's lawyer Doug Wignor has written in opposing bail, "Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community."