After a nearly two-month trial and the often-emotional testimony of more than 30 witnesses, hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been acquitted of the major charges against him — racketeering and two sex trafficking counts — but a jury found him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Prosecutors alleged Combs lured women into romantic relationships, forced them through emotional, physical and financial manipulation to take part in days of highly coordinated, drug-fueled sex parties called “freak offs” with male escorts that he directed, and then blackmailed them with videos he recorded of the encounters.

Combs, whose Miami and Los Angeles mansions were raided in April 2024, was charged with racketeering for leading what prosecutors alleged was a criminal organization over the course of two decades that operated on sex trafficking, kidnapping, drug offenses and forced labor, among other crimes.

While the defense never denied his extravagant sex life, the Grammy-award-winner has continually maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has also denied allegations brought forward in approximately 80 sexual assault lawsuits, which detail alleged incidents dating back to the 1990s.

How long could Diddy be in prison?

Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Combs faced a maximum sentence of life in prison for the racketeering charge. Sex trafficking has a 15-year mandatory minimum and maximum of life in prison.

What is racketeering?

Racketeering does not refer to a specific crime, but to a coordinated pattern of illegal activity as part of a larger enterprise to generate profit, generally for a criminal organization.

Federal law prohibits a variety of activities relating to any such enterprise that affects interstate or foreign commerce with the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.

To prove Combs was racketeering, prosecutors would have had to prove he willingly entered into a pattern of illegal activity that affected interstate commerce with one or more other people.

Florida Statutes define racketeering activity as acts meant to commit, attempt to commit, conspire to commit, or get someone else to commit a wide variety of crimes including illegal gambling, homicide, kidnapping or human trafficking, burglary, computer-related crimes, animal fighting, weapons trafficking, public assistance fraud, helping a noncitizen to vote and many more.

What is the Mann Act?

Comb’s prostitution-related charges violate the Mann Act, a law that makes it a federal crime to transport someone across state lines for prostitution.

What was Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs charged with? Was his Florida home raided?

Combs, who owns two mansions in Florida, was arrested in August 2024 and charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering.

In the raids of Combs’ Miami and Los Angeles homes earlier that year, law enforcement seized “more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant,” which the indictment said was used when Combs and his employees booked hotel rooms for “freak offs,” along with extra bedsheets and lighting. Police also seized “evidence” of the crimes in the indictment and three AR-15s with scratched-off serial numbers.

Along with the “freak offs” and abuse, the indictment also alleged Combs punched, struck, dragged and kicked various women since at least 2008, and forced employees to “cover up his abuse and commercial sex” operation. Other incidents listed in the indictment include an armed kidnapping and blowing up a car.

One element that featured prominently in the trial was an infamous video that allegedly showed Combs beating, kicking, and dragging his former girlfriend of a decade Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine in a hotel hallway.

Ventura Fine testified early in the trial about her participation in his alleged “freak offs,” the physical and emotional abuse she said she faced, and the drug addiction she’d developed after using various substances, in part to cope. She also detailed alleged repeated physical abuse, which was captured in photographs shared with jurors.

Who is Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs?

Sean Love Combs, 55, also known as P. Diddy, Puff Daddy or Diddy, is an R&B artist, rapper and record producer and executive. He owns his own record label, Bad Boy Records, which he founded in 1993.

Diddy’s been nominated for myriad industry accolades, from People’s Choice awards, to lifetime achievement awards and Grammys. He’s got 18 trophies under his belt and has been nominated for awards more than 60 times throughout his multi-decade career.

Before the arrest, Combs was in the news for a string of serious sexual and domestic abuse allegations. He’s facing multiple lawsuits accusing him of rape and sexual assault.

Will President Trump pardon Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs?

It’s possible. The president has the power to pardon federal crimes.

He mentioned the possibility on May 30.

“Nobody’s asked” about a pardon, Trump said. “But I know people are thinking about it. I know they’re thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking.

“I haven’t spoken to him in years. He really liked me a lot.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and Spanish via chat and at 800-656-4673.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ verdict is split decision. What is racketeering?