The jury is still waiting to decide the most serious racketeering conspiracy charge, which carries a life sentence, though Sean Diddy’s sex trafficking trial is almost over.
The jury in Sean ‘Diddy’ Comb’s sex trafficking trial have reached a verdict on four out of five counts against the disgraced star, but they say they are currently unable to reach a decision on the most serious charge.
The judge instructed the jury of 12 to continue weighing the charge of racketeering conspiracy, insisting that two days of deliberations were too soon to reach a verdict on all counts.
Judge Arun Subramanian received a note at 4.05 p.m. on Tuesday confirming that the jury had “unpersuasive views” on both sides and that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
Juries have a right to deliver a partial verdict, but they were encouraged to continue deliberations, given they had only started on Monday. As soon as the note was delivered in court, the hip-hop mogul’s lawyers surrounded him to explain the situation as he appeared agitated, with the moment captured by a courtroom artist.
Racketeering: What is it?
Making money off of organized illegal activities is known as racketeering. Since at least 2008, Combs has been accused of operating a criminal enterprise that has committed crimes like sex trafficking and forced labor.
Combs wanted to coerce and abuse women and people around him to satisfy his sexual desire while also keeping his behavior a secret, the government claimed. The most difficult charge is the one involving the racketeering conspiracy because it requires the jury to determine whether he organized a “racketeering enterprise” as well as whether or not he engaged in any or all of the various crimes, including kidnapping and arson.
Rico, what is it?
The charge is referred to as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which is most frequently used in cases involving organized crime and drug cartels. The singer’s defense attorneys contend that the prosecution is attempting to criminalize his swing lifestyle and that his actions could constitute domestic violence but not federal felonies.
The 55-year-old could spend life behind bars if found guilty of all charges, which would entail a maximum sentence. The jury is reviewing the critical testimony of Combs’ ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who he had been dating for about 11 years.
Jurors’ questions answered
About 75 minutes into the second day of the trial, witnesses alleged that Combs used his wealth, violence, and celebrity to coerce two girlfriends into drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex producers known as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights” to demand the testimony.
Eight men and four women from the panel requested Ms. Ventura’s account of Combs beating, kicking, and dragging her in a hotel in Los Angeles in 2016 — an assault that was captured on infamous security camera footage.
They also requested to hear Ms. Ventura’s account of a 2013 incident where she claimed Combs accused her of abusing her and had kicked her off their yacht at the Cannes Film Festival in France. She claimed that he threatened to release explicit videos of her having sex on their return to the US.
P Diddy charges in full.
Combs has denied all of the allegations brought against him, including:
- Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy
- Victim 1 (Cassie Ventura) is the subject of Count 2 – Sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
- Count 3 – Transportation to engage in prostitution in relation to victim 1 (Cassie) and professional sex workers
- Count 4 – Sex trafficking perpetrated by force, fraud, or coercion (victim 2).
- Count 5 – Transportation to engage in prostitution, relating to Victim 2 (Jane Doe) and professional sex workers
Two and four count for a minimum of 15 years. Life is the maximum sentence permitted by the counts. Three and five count for ten years in prison.
Source: Mirror
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