Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs cleared of sex trafficking, convicted of prostitution-related offence

Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offence under the Mann Act but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. While avoiding life imprisonment, he still faces up to ten years in prison. The case could end his career

New York: Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offence but acquitted Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life.

The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality TV star.

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Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act.

But the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate his girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fuelled sex marathons with the men.

Combs and his defence team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges.