Jury Reaches Verdicts on 4 of 5 Charges in Diddy RICO Trial
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After nearly two months of testimony and legal sparring, the jury in the federal racketeering case against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has informed the court that it has reached unanimous verdicts on four out of five charges, The New York Times reports. The panel remains deadlocked on the most serious charge: racketeering.
Judge Arun Subramanian, who is presiding over the high-profile case in New York, instructed the jury to resume deliberations on Tuesday, July 2. He confirmed that jurors were at an impasse on the racketeering count, noting that some members held “unpersuadable opinions on both sides.”
The jury, however, reached decisions on two counts of sex trafficking and two counts related to transportation for prostitution. The outcomes of those verdicts have not yet been made public.
To convict Diddy on the racketeering charge, prosecutors must prove he knowingly joined a criminal enterprise and agreed that either he or others involved would commit at least two illegal acts in furtherance of it.
The government alleges that Diddy, 55, operated a sprawling network of employees and associates who engaged in criminal activities for over a decade, including drug trafficking, kidnapping, bribery, arson, forced labor, and sex crimes.
Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey requested the judge issue an “Allen charge,” a legal instruction meant to encourage a deadlocked jury to reach a consensus. However, Combs’ defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, opposed the motion, arguing that the jury was still making progress after fewer than two full days of deliberation.
Judge Subramanian sided with the defense for now, choosing not to pressure the panel prematurely. Before adjourning, he reminded jurors to maintain their individual judgment, saying, “No juror should surrender his or her conscientious beliefs for the purpose of returning a unanimous verdict.”
Combs was arrested in September 2024 and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted of the racketeering offense, he could face a life sentence.
