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What has Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs been convicted of?

On Friday, American music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs learned his fate: He was sentenced to 50 months in prison.

The rapper, who was accused of running a sprawling sex-trafficking operation, was found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution.

His high-profile trial ended in July with two guilty verdicts and an acquittal on three others – including a racketeering charge that could have left him in prison potentially for life.

Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty and denied all the allegations against him.

Here is a breakdown of the case against the rapper.

What was Diddy found guilty of?

Combs’ federal trial started in May and went on for eight weeks.

He was accused of racketeering, two sex-trafficking counts and two counts of transportation for prostitution. The charges centred on his conduct with ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, and an anonymous victim known as “Jane” who testified in the trial.

He ultimately was convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution.

In simple terms, it means the jury found Combs guilty of transporting Ms Ventura and “Jane” to places where they would participate in sex acts and prostitution. The felony dates back to the Mann Act, which was enacted in 1910.

He was acquitted of the most serious charge of racketeering conspiracy – which carries a potential life sentence – as well as two charges of sex trafficking.

How much prison time was possible in the case?

Transportation for purposes of prostitution – the charge that Combs was convicted of – carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. And Combs was convicted on two counts.

After the verdict, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo immediately asked for his client to be released from federal detention until his sentencing hearing, and suggested a $1m bail. But a judge denied that request and said the hip-hop mogul will remain in jail until he is sentenced.

Prosecutors have asked for a minimum of 11 years, but Combs’ lawyers have argued that such a sentence would be a dramatic overreach.

In the end, Judge Arun Subramanian said a significant sentence was required as a deterrent, and to send a message.

Combs himself wrote a letter to the judge on the eve of his sentencing, asking for leniency so he can be home with his seven children and elderly mother.

“I lost my way,” he wrote to the judge. “My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core.”

Combs’s accusers have also written to the judge asking that he remain behind bars. They describe how he wielded his power and influence to ruin their lives, and their fears that he would seek revenge if freed.

“I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up,” wrote Ms Ventura.

Judges can consider history, character, contributions to society, and previous criminal record during sentencing.

Combs’ lawyers cited examples of his business and music success as evidence of his contributions. His team also submitted testimonials from family members, and other detainees at the jail where Combs is held.

What is racketeering? And why was he acquitted of it?

Racketeering charges were created to take on mob bosses, but it has since been used in other trials, including for sex trafficking – such as in the case against disgraced R&B singer R Kelly.

It is also sometimes used against a group of defendants. US President Donald Trump and his allies were accused of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia – charges that Trump denied.

To convict Combs on this charge, prosecutors had to prove that he used his loyal network of associates to run a criminal enterprise to commit crimes including sex trafficking, kidnapping, drugging and obstruction of justice.

In this case, that network would include his employees, who prosecutors argued played a part in setting up the “freak-offs”, or sex parties, at the centre of the case.

These were prolonged sexual encounters at which the prosecution’s key witnesses said they were coerced to have sex with male escorts while Combs watched.

His lawyers sought to dismantle this charge by noting that Combs’s employees weren’t in attendance at these so-called freak-offs. They argued that it can’t be racketeering if members of Combs’s staff were not knowingly complicit.

Experts have said this charge was always going to the most difficult for prosecutors.

Robert Mintz, a criminal defence lawyer, told the BBC, that prosecutors needed to prove the rapper established a co-ordinated plan with at least one other person to commit at least two crimes over a span of several years.

“It’s a very complicated charge, used typically in the past in organised crime prosecution,” Mr Mintz said, adding it is unsurprising that this charge gave the jury the most difficulty.

What is the Mann Act?

The Mann Act is a US federal law that was passed to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women.

Initially referred to as the “White-Slave Traffic Act”, the more than 100-year-old law prohibits the transportation of individuals across state lines for illegal sex acts or prostitution.

Both Ms Ventura and “Jane”, who had dated the rapper, separately testified about “freak-offs” or “hotel nights”. They described these as sexual encounters in which the couple would hire male escorts to have sex with the female partner while Combs watched, at times recording or directing them.

In its early days, the Mann Act was used by federal prosecutors as a way to criminalise some forms of consensual activity, including interracial relationships.

Combs’ lawyers referenced that history in an unsuccessful attempt to get one of the charges against the rapper dismissed, arguing that he was being unfairly persecuted because of his race.

Diddy faces more than 100 lawsuits

Separately, Combs faces a number of lawsuits accusing him of rape and assault.

Tony Buzbee, a Texas lawyer handling a large share of these cases, said that more than 100 women and men from across the US had either filed lawsuits against the rap mogul or intended to do so.

Many of the cases include allegations that include drugging accusers and coercing people – women, men and underage victims – to comply with sexual demands while promising career opportunities.

Some of the lawsuits allege the assaults happened at Combs’s notorious parties, which were often attended by A-list celebrities.

Combs’s legal team has dismissed the flurry of lawsuits as “clear attempts to garner publicity”.

Combs’ current legal issues began in late 2023 when he was sued by Ms Ventura, also known as Cassie, for violent abuse and rape.

That lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount a day after it was filed, with Combs maintaining his innocence.

Since then, dozens of other people have filed lawsuits accusing Combs of sexual assault, with accusations dating back to 1991. He denies all the claims.

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