After a two-month trial, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been found guilty of transporting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura for prostitution.
The 55-year-old had been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution after he was arrested last September – but had denied all of the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
Today, after 13 hours of deliberations over three days, the jury came back – convicting Combs of transporting Ventura and another former girlfriend, only known as Jane, for prostitution.
He was found not guilty of racketeering and of sex trafficking both women.
In June Ventura, 38, took to the stand for four straight days, detailing the rapper’s abuse of her throughout their decade-long on-off relationship.
In 2023, she filed a lawsuit accusing her ex of abuse. This included an incident at the InterContinental Hotel in LA in 2016, with CCTV footage appearing to show him grabbing, shoving and kicking her across the floor.
Sharing her account with the court, a then heavily-pregnant Ventura, who welcomed her third child with husband Alex Fine a few weeks later, also detailed the so-called ‘freak offs’ – marathon sex parties she says she had been coerced into by Combs.
After dating for 10 years, the pair finally split in 2018.
Soon after Combs’ verdict was announced, her lawyer Douglas H. Wigdor spoke about Ventura’s strength to come forward.
In a statement, he said: ‘This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023. Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.
‘By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial.
‘She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors.’
What charges was Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on trial for?
Racketeering conspiracy: Not guilty
Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura: Not guilty
Transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others: Guilty
Sex trafficking of woman known as “Jane”: Not guilty
Transportation for prostitution of “Jane” and others: Guilty
Elizabeth Williams via AP)
Speaking to reporters outside court, he also said: ‘We’re just pleased that he still faces substantial jail time.’
The two charges Combs has been found guilty of have a potential 10-year maximum sentence.
Ventura is best known for her music career – releasing her lead single Me & U in 2006, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
She quickly caught the attention of Combs who signed her onto his Bad Boy Records label.
In August 2006 her self-titled debut album was released but became her first and last release.
She also appeared in Step Up 2: The Streets, The Perfect Match and Empire, as well as modelling for Calvin Klein, ASOS and Abercrombie and Fitch.
She and Coombs dated between 2007 and 2018, starting when she was 21 and he was 39.
In November 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Combs, accusing him of raping and physically abusing her during their relationship.
Combs denied the allegations, with the former couple settling the case the day after the documents were filed.
Not long after leaving Combs, Ventura met wellness consultant Alex Fine at the gym.
They were married in September 2019 and now have three children together – daughters Frankie Stone and Sunny, as well as their newborn son.
After Ventura left the court for the final time, her husband shared a message about her ‘strength and bravery’.
‘Over the past five days, the world has gotten to witness the strength and bravery of my wife freeing herself of her past,’ he began.
‘I have felt so many things sitting there. I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass. I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her.
‘So, to him and all of those who helped him along the way, please know this: You did not. You did not break her spirit, nor her smile, that lights up every room. You did not break the souls of a mother who gives the best hugs and plays the silliest games with our little girls. You did not break the woman who has made me a better man.’
He also denied ‘saving’ Ventura, adding: ‘Cassie saved Cassie. She alone broke free from abuse, coercion, violence and threats. She did the work of fighting the demons that only a demon himself could have done to her.’
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