“Diddy” Trial Jury Reaches Partial Verdict on Four Counts, Must Decide on RICO Charge Before Announcement

“Diddy” Trial Jury Reaches Partial Verdict on Four Counts, Must Decide on RICO Charge Before Announcement

The jury deliberating in the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking and racketeering case told the judge they have a partial verdict, having reached a decision on four of the five charges against the hip-hop mogul, and have been directed to keep deliberating until they can reach a conclusion on the sprawling federal racketeering charge he faces. 

On Tuesday afternoon just after 4 p.m., Judge Arun Subramanian received a note from the jury that they are stuck on the racketeering element of the case, noting that there are jurors “with unpersuadable opinions on both sides.” Jurors sent two notes to Subramanian on Monday, with the second seeking clarification regarding what qualifies as drug distribution. This was certainly related to the alleged crimes that the feds say Combs committed and relate to the racketeering conspiracy charge he faces. Their question related to whether it’s considered criminal drug distribution if a person receiving an illegal substance had previously asked the alleged distributor for the drug.

“I ask at this time that you keep deliberating,” Judge Subramanian said. He also read to the eight men and four women an excerpt from the jury instructions: “No juror should surrender his or her conscientious beliefs for the purpose of returning a unanimous verdict.”

Despite the fast turnaround on the four counts, which include two counts each of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and transportation for purposes of prostitution, both the prosecution and defense teams agreed that the jury should finish deliberations before the decision on these four counts that the government has charged Combs with is announced. 

Maurene Comey, the lead prosecutor for the federal government, suggested to Judge Subramanian that an Allen Charge be issued to the jury; this is a special charge to jurors asking that they work to reach a verdict. While some states have banned this practice, it is allowed in federal cases. Lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo encouraged more deliberation, saying that they’d only been discussing the case “for a day and change.” His defense team was described by TheNew York Times as having grim looks on their faces when they learned of the quick decision on the sex trafficking and transportation for purposes of prostitution charges.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts contained in an indictment, including sex trafficking and racketeering. He has remained incarcerated without bail in Brooklyn; the disgraced hip-hop icon faces life in prison if found guilty on all charges. 

During the prosecution’s closing arguments last week, Southern District of New York Attorney Christy Slavik said that on the racketeering charges the jury must be unanimous in their voting that Combs knowingly and willfully agreed that he, or a co-conspirator, would commit two acts of racketeering. She said there is evidence of multiple acts committed by Combs and his “enterprise”: drug distribution, kidnapping, an arson attack, bribery, facilitating sex trafficking, facilitating travel for commercial sex (for his girlfriends, Cassandra Ventura, the pseudonymous “Jane” and several male sex workers), forced labor and covering up crimes. 

Following the conversation with Judge Subramanian, the jury decided to conclude its deliberations for the day and return on Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET.