Diddy escapes life behind bars

Music mogul, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, has escaped life imprisonment after he was found not guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking.

The 55-year-old was, however, convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution.

This means that the rapper has been cleared of more serious charges after his seven-week trial, in which two of his former lovers testified.

The verdict comes nearly 10 months after the music icon was arrested and accused of running a criminal enterprise and of abusing, threatening and coercing victims to “fulfill his sexual desires” from 2004 through 2024.

Diddy could face up to 10 years in prison, for each charge that he is found guilty of.

Combs, who has been locked up in the Metropolitan Detention Centre since last September, will now wait to find out if he will be granted bail or will be sent back to prison until a date for his sentencing is set.

Over the weeks testimony was heard from more than 30 witnesses, including Diddy’s former long-term partner Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura and a former girlfriend who testified under a pseudonym, Jane.

The women both spoke about the abuse they endured during their tumultuous relationships with the rap mogul.

R&B singer and actor Cassie, who was the star witness in the New York case, met Combs in 2005 when she was 19 and he was 37. He signed her to his Bad Boy Records label and, within a few years, they started dating.

In her testimony, the 38-year-old alleged that she was coerced into marathon ‘freak off’ parties (all white parties) during her relationship with Combs.

Ventura, who was heavily pregnant at the time she took the stand, also claimed that Combs often beat and abused her during their 11-year relationship.

She spoke about incident where Diddy allegedly threw her to a bed headboard resulting in her cutting her eyelid and instead of being taken to the hospital, Diddy ordered that she be taken to a plastic surgeon.

Ventura also detailed how she got hooked onto drugs during the relationship, using them also to numb her pain during the ‘freak-offs’, where Diddy would also record her with male escorts.

However, during cross-examination Diddy’s defense attorneys brought up text messages from their relationship where Ventura wrote that she ‘loved’ the freak offs, painting a picture that she was a willing participant.

Combs was also seen physically assaulting Ventura in a widely circulated hotel surveillance video from 2016, which subsequently led Ventura into suing him in 2023 alleging that he trapped her in a cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking for more than a decade.  This allegedly included raping her and forcing her to engage in sex acts with male sex workers.

The two amicably settled the lawsuit one day later for $20 million.

Then came two alleged Combs victims who testified under the pseudonyms “Mia” and “Jane,” as well as two male escorts who testified that they were paid to participate in so-called “freak-off” sexual encounters with Combs, Ventura and other alleged victims.

“Mia”, who was Diddy’s former PA, testified that she didn’t report the sexual abuse she suffered because she was terrified and brainwashed by him.

The jury also heard from witnesses who testified about alleged abuse and sexual acts, and a forensic psychologist who testified regarding why people often remain in abusive relationships.

One of the most high-profile prosecution witnesses was Scott Mescudi, aka rapper Kid Cudi.

He testified that he was told Combs broke into his home and had someone set his car on fire after learning that he was dating Ventura.

Combs’ former girlfriend, who used the pseudonym Jane, told the court she was in a relationship with Diddy from 2021 to 2024.

Jane over six days testified about all the ways Combs allegedly pressured her to do sexual performances, namely, so-called “hotel nights” with sex workers that could last days.

She alleged that in some instances, he’d kick, punch and drag her.

Jane told the court that she stayed in the relationship regardless, because she loved him.

Following Wednesday’s split verdict, Cassie’s lawyer hailed his client, saying she’s left an indelible mark both on the entertainment industry and the fight for justice.

Douglas H. Wigdor says the entire criminal process began when Cassie showed the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023.

He says while Combs was found not guilty of sex trafficking beyond a reasonable doubt, Ventura paved the way for the jury in finding him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Social media has been abuzz since the verdict was announced, with many expressing mixed views.

He will continue to abuse women, he will continue to abuse his power, and one day, someone will end up seriously hurt by his actions. Unfortunately, money matters more than justice for his victims. #Diddy #DiddyTrial pic.twitter.com/DYgDPIPPRo

— AnaBeckCoaching (@AnaBeck95444) July 2, 2025

50 Cent every time one of Diddy’s verdicts came back “Not Guilty” pic.twitter.com/PLx0uRvVQa

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) July 2, 2025

The jury saw videos of these “freak offs”, heard Cassie’s testimony live, heard documented proof of the physical, sexual, emotional, and physiological abuse and still said we can’t find Diddy guilty.

— Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) July 2, 2025

The jury saying P. Diddy is guilty of transporting prostitutes but not guilty of sex trafficking pic.twitter.com/HsEpNKo2FO

— Soundwave (@LocalSoundwave) July 2, 2025

The verdict for Diddy is a message to all women that they are not believed. Sorry to the women out there. The victims especially, they deserved better.

— Poogle (@Poogle1959) July 2, 2025