What’s Tea? Diddy’s Partial Verdict and No Bail Keeps Him in Jail, Updates on the Music Mogul’s Sexual Assault and Trafficking Case
- Chinyere Ibeh
- 12 minutes ago
- 10 min read
As the trial regarding allegations of racketeering, trafficking and sexual assault comes to an end, the media and music mogul faces several civil lawsuits stemming from almost three decades of alleged abuse.
Sean “Diddy” Combs faced five charges in a ten-week trial regarding racketeering and sex trafficking, only to be found guilty of two charges regarding the transportation to engage in prostitution.
These charges relate to two of his former girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and another who testified as “Jane.” The music mogul was not found guilty of the racketeering conspiracy and two sex trafficking counts. These three counts each carried a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, according to ABC News.
As news of the verdict began to roll in, Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, called for the Harlem-born music executive to be released on July 2, though the prosecution strongly argued against the notion. They argued Combs is a flight risk as well as a danger to his victims, especially those who testified during the trial. A letter from Ventura’s lawyers expressed these very concerns, noting the danger Combs poses to both the victims and the community.
Judge Arun Subramanina, who has been overseeing the trial, denied bail for Combs. The denial will force Combs to stay in jail until sentencing, which is scheduled for October 3, at 10 in the morning.
ABC News reports that prosecutors argued for Combs to be sentenced to 51 to 63 months in jail, which totals to around four to five years. Combs’ attorneys argued for a sentence of 21 to 27 months, around two years instead.
The music mogul has already served nine months while awaiting trial, which will subtract from his sentence.
“Sean Combs, going to trial where he was facing life, and being able to walk out with something under 10 years, well under 10 years possibly, that is a victory,” ABC News’ legal contributor Brian Buckmire said.
Combs’ conviction on the lesser charges presents a paradoxical predicament, one noted by CNN’s Senior Legal Analyst Elli Honig.
“...here we have Sean Combs, who has just been convicted of two federal felonies … And for all practical purposes, he has won. He has defeated the Southern District of New York,” Honig said.
Ventura’s lawyer, Dough Wigdor, told reporters outside of the courtroom that they wanted Combs convicted of racketeering. Though, they’re pleased that the rapper-turned-executive will be “held responsible for something, which is something that hasn’t happened in his lifetime.” Wigdor, and his team, are hopeful that Combs will receive a “substantial sentence” for his crimes.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, also spoke with the press outside of the courtroom. He was later joined by his co-council, Teny Geragos.
“...one thing stands between all of us and a prison, and that is a jury of 12 citizens, and we had a wonderful jury. They listened to every word, and they got the situation right, or certainly right enough,” Agnifilo said.
Geragos followed up with a statement of his own, noting how the media got it all wrong, regarding the allegations against Combs, for the past two years. He calls for everyone, especially the media, to analyze the criminal complaints and indictments.
“I ask that for every time you guys see a civil lawsuit, criminal complaints or criminal indictments, you actually take a look and analyze these and see whether or not these are actually going to stand up in a court of law, because today they did not.”
He goes on to state that Combs did not sexually assault or traffick anyone, citing the jury’s verdict.
The Prosecution’s Case Fell Through, Leaving the Jury Hung Up on Semantics
The prosecution accused the music mogul of leading a criminal enterprise, allegedly using threats, violence and bribery to force Ventura and “Jane” to engage in sex acts with male escorts. Combs’ lawyers argued that the sex acts were consensual, noting that the accusers were trying to get money from the music mogul.
The partial acquittal showcases the prosecution’s inability to prove racketeering conspiracy as well as sex trafficking. According to CNN, the jury appeared to be unconvinced of the existence of an enterprise, or that he and others committed the crimes that would support a conviction.
With Combs, prosecutors argued that he and members of his inner circle engaged in various crimes - including arson, kidnapping and forced labor. For a conviction, the jury had to believe that Combs and at least one other person committed two of these crimes within a ten-year window.
Interestingly enough, as CNN points out, Combs was charged by himself. The jury didn’t hear any direct testimony from anyone who would’ve been part of the alleged enterprise.
There proved to be difficulty amongst the jury as they were deadlocked on the racketeering conspiracy charge. The verdict form alleged eight predicate acts supporting the charge: kidnapping, arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking, drug distribution and transportation for purposes of prostitution.
The jury had to find at least two of these acts to be proven, and they could be the same thing.
According to Legal Affairs and Trial with Meghann Cuniff, jurors had sent a note to the judge, asking:
“If a recipient wants, requests, or asks for controlled substances, and an individual hands over controlled substances to the requester, has the individual who hands over the controlled substances distributed?”
Regarding the two sex trafficking charges, both Ventura and “Jane” suggested financial or professional control. Ventura signed to Combs’ record label at 19-years-old, prosecutors arguing the music juggernaut controlled her career.
“Jane” testified that she entered a “love contract” with Combs, in which he agreed to pay her $10,000 rent. Though, he would allegedly threaten to cut her off financially if she refused to participate in “hotel nights” - also known as “Freak Offs.”
These “Freak Offs” were essentially sex marathons that could sometimes go on for days in swanky and luxurious hotels. In her 2024 bombshell lawsuit against Combs, Ventura said he directed her to pour oil on herself and as well as to where to touch the prostitutes while he filmed and masturbated.
According to the indictment, the “Freak Offs” were “elaborate and produced sex performances,” involving drug use and coerced sex. Participants were often left so exhausted that they were given fluids to recover.
Combs Still Faces Several Civil Lawsuits Following His Semi-Acquittal on Criminal Charges
As the criminal case is coming to a close, Combs still faces dozens of civil lawsuits from various people, including former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard.
The Louisiana-born singer filed a lawsuit against Combs in September 2024, alleging he sexually assaulted her as well as deprived her of food and sleep. Plus, according to her lawsuit, Combs refused to adequately pay her.
Richard’s affiliation with Combs came when she auditioned and ultimately became a part of season three of MTV’s Making The Band. During the audition process, Combs would allegedly call female contestants derogatory names, including “fat” and “b-ch.”
Throughout the production of the show, and the following years, Richards and her Danity Kane bandmates were allegedly forced to rehearse for two days without food or rest. According to Richard’s suit, she lost weight and got rashes from wearing a microphone pack during filming.
She was later diagnosed with anemia and arthralgia, the latter being joint stiffness caused by overuse, sprains and infections.
Combs’ attorney Erica Wolff responded to the lawsuit, noting the music mogul’s “shocked and disappointed” reaction.
“Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day - conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour,” Wolff said in the statement.
Richard also alleged that Combs would come into her dressing room unannounced, and he would sometimes touch her inappropriately while working with a stylist to demonstrate where her clothing should fall. Combs regularly asked her to strip to her underwear, and often conducted his meetings in his underwear.
Not only did Richard speak on her personal experience, she noted how she witnessed Combs abuse Ventura on various occasions. She allegedly saw Combs and his associates take illegal drugs and engage in sexual acts with underage girls.
In one instance, Richard and Diddy-Dirty Money member Kalenna Harper visited Combs’ Los Angeles home and he berated Ventura for not cooking his eggs correctly. He allegedly threw a pan at Ventura and dragged her upstairs, according to Richard’s lawsuit.
The following day, he brought flowers to the duo and claimed the incident was a “lover’s argument” during which no one was hurt. He threatened consequences if either went public with the incident.
Other alleged incidents include Combs pulling Ventura out of a van by her neck and pinning her to the ground, punching her in the face in the bathroom of a party, and punching her stomach in front of several high-profile celebrities - including Interscope Records founder Jimmy Iovine.
Despite the incident, a $50 million distribution deal between Iovine and Combs for Combs’ music still went through.
“...the Bad Boy-Interscope took place and remained in effect, providing Mr. Combs with immense financial rewards and repercussions,” the complaint read.
As Richard detailed the physical abuse and sexual assault, she also details the financial ruin of the current situation. Richard alleged in her complaint that she is owed money for royalties and license fees - money she has yet to receive. The royalties and license fees stem from other Bad Boy Records artists recording songs written by Richard.
Richard alleged that she’s owed around $1.2 million from the success of Diddy-Dirty Money, stemming from unpaid wages and royalties. She also made more than $350,000 in tour performances and at least $1.5 million for promoting Ciroc, a vodka brand Combs partnered with in the mid-2000s.
She would make her appearance in the sex trafficking trial against Combs as a witness. Richard spoke of the egg-and-pan-throwing incident, noting that Combs told her and Harper they would “go missing” if they spoke about the incident. As Richard understood that statement, she and Harper would die if they publicized the abuse.
The singer isn’t the only one to accuse Combs of sexual assault and abuse as the music mogul has a laundry list of accusers with various allegations.
According to USA Today, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr., a producer on Combs’ “The Love Album,” claimed that the “It’s All About the Benjamins” rapper groped and sexually assaulted him. He alleges that Combs facilitated others to sexual assault while also not paying him for his work.
Kat Pasion, according to USA Today, claimed in the documentary series The Fall of Diddy that Combs subjected her to nonconsensual sex during their on and off relationship in the late 2010s. The Canadian actress has not filed a lawsuit as of the publishing of this article.
USA Today’s article not only details the public accusers, but those who have remained anonymous.
A woman who was 16-years-old in 1993 when she allegedly auditioned to be Combs’ backup dancer. According to a February 2025 lawsuit, a man named “Kay” took her to a Long Island, New York home where Combs allegedly drugged and assaulted her.
She woke up hours later bloodied and in pain. She didn’t report the incident due to fear, though her parents found out and she allegedly received medical attention. A woman faced a similar fate in 1995 when she was beaten and raped during a promotional party in New York for Biggie Small’s “One More Chance” music video.
Her lawsuit was dismissed as she refused to reveal her identity. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Limna ruled that she could not proceed anonymously, and that she would have to re-file her complaint under her real name.
“As of today, March 31, 2025, (Jane Doe) has not filed a complaint in her own name, nor has she sought an extension to do so,” Liman wrote in his decision.
Her fear of public scrutiny remains the reason for not fully coming forward, according to her legal team.
“There is a lot of fear amongst these plaintiffs. I thus can’t blame her,” Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement to USA Today. “These are tough cases and they are many times re-traumatizing for those who pursue them. Each case stands on its own merit. This woman chose not to proceed and subject herself to the media circus and the perceived danger she felt. We have to respect that.”
Combs’ legal team at the time released a statement denouncing any anonymous complaint against the Revolt co-founder.
“For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by attorneys more focused on media headlines than legal merit. The other claims, like the one dismissed today, also will not hold up in a cort of law,” Combs’ attorneys said in a statement.
What Has Happened Since the Verdict? What Happens Now?
At the end of July, prosecutors responded to Combs’ legal team’s newest attempt for bail. Prosecutors noted that the defense hasn’t presented a reason for the court to reconsider its decision.
Prosecution cited various rulings and previous court cases, noting the strict standard for reconsidering bail:
United States v. Velisarious finding that since “the Court already denied the defendant’s request at the sentencing proceeding for bail pending appeal, the defendant’s instant [bail] motion may be properly viewed as a motion to reconsider.”
United States v. Reese denying motion to reconsider detention ruling pending appeal where defendant failed to meet standard for motion for reconsideration
“To warrant reconsideration, the moving part bears the heavy burden of showing ‘an intervening change of controlling law, the availability of new evidence, or the need to correct a clear error or prevent a manifest injustice,’” the prosecution wrote in their filing, citing Virgin Atlantic Airways, Ltd v. National Mediation Bd.
The prosecution notes that the defense’s new motion did not raise new issues that the Court overlooked.
As Combs continues to sit in jail following the denial of bail, President Donald Trump joins the circus-like fray.
The sitting president is considering a partial pardon for the Revolt founder, according to an administration source who spoke with Deadline. Several of Combs’ associates have been pitching for the pardon to Trump since the partial verdict.
Combs’ defense team, led by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Gerago, had “no comment” on the matter when Deadline reached out. When reaching out to the White House itself, an administration official said there won’t be discussion of any potential clemency request.
Comments