On Wednesday, Sean Combs, AKA Diddy, was found not guilty by a jury on three of the five charges made against him by federal prosecutors. He still could serve time in prison for the other two counts.
After deliberating for two days, the jury of eight men and four women found Diddy not guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. He was convicted on the more minor charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.
The crime of transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Federal prosecutors say they will seek the maximum of 20 years for the two convictions. The racketeering conspiracy charge, which was the final count that the jury came to a conclusion on, could have resulted in a 20-year prison sentence all by itself. The sex trafficking charges each carried a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence if convicted.
The trial, which took seven weeks to complete, saw 34 witnesses give testimony. All 34 were called by the prosecution. Three women, including Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s former girlfriend, shared disturbing and often graphic testimony describing allegations of sexual assault, violence, kidnapping, and threats of blackmail. Diddy’s legal team called zero witnesses to testify in his defense.
During closing arguments, Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, accused the prosecution of conducting a “fake trial” and trying to punish the music mogul for his “private sex life.”
Following the reading of the verdict, according to NBC News, Agnifilo told Judge Arun Subramanian that he wanted Combs to be finally released on bail, “He has been acquitted of very, very serious charges. He has been convicted of a far less serious charge.”
Prosecutor Maurene Comey disagreed, telling the judge, “It is clear that the defendant does pose a danger.”
Regardless of the outcome of the trial, Sean Combs will still have to deal with numerous lawsuits. Last November, attorney Tony Buzbee said he was representing 120 alleged victims in lawsuits against the disgraced rapper.
The post Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Found Not Guilty By Jury On 3 Out Of 5 Charges, Still Faces Lengthy Prison Time appeared first on BroBible.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Found Not Guilty By Jury On 3 Out Of 5 Charges, Still Faces Lengthy Prison Time
Pinoy Human Rights
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