American musician Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted on prostitution-related charges on Wednesday following a seven-week federal trial. He was cleared of more serious charges — such as racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — and now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. Federal prosecutors have indicated plans to seek the maximum sentence for Diddy following the verdict. Meanwhile, his defense sought his release from federal detention after more than nine months.
The three-time Grammy award winner was convicted of flying people around the country — including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers — to engage in sexual encounters. This violates a 115-year-old federal law called the Mann Act that was named for Illinois congressman James Mann. The law originally prohibited the interstate transport of a woman or girl for “prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose.” It was later updated to be gender-neutral and for any sexual activity “for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense.”
The disgraced musician had been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting sex workers across state lines. He had pleased ‘not guilty’ to the accusations. Lawyers for Combs acknowledge that he could be violent and may have been a bad boyfriend. But they deny that he’s done anything to warrant the charges against him.
The government said Combs coerced women into abusive sex parties involving hired male sex workers, ensured their compliance with drugs like cocaine and threats to their careers, and silenced victims through blackmail and violence that included kidnapping, arson and beatings. The jury, however, acquitted Combs of the most serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — which could have carried a sentence of up to life in prison.
What was the verdict?
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 him 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-fueled sex marathons with the men. The disgraced musician and his defence team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges.
The maximum potential sentence is 10 years in prison for each of the prostitution-related convictions. However US District Judge Arun Subramanian will have much discretion and could order concurrent sentences.