The jury got the case at 11:30 a.m. after two hours and 15 minutes of instructions.
Combs spent a lot of that time writing notes to his attorneys. He also took off one pair of glasses and then put on another.
He’s wearing a light yellow sweater and came in with a smile, and hugged his attorneys, as always.
Kelly Rissman30 June 2025 17:08
The jury has been instructed and the judge has sent them back to the room for deliberations.
Ariana Baio30 June 2025 16:38
The government needed to prove that Combs knowingly transported or arranged for the transportation of an individual for prostitution – sexual activity in exchange for money or its equivalent – beyond a reasonable doubt in order for jurors to find him guilty of the charge.
Combs is facing two counts of transportation for prostitution purposes – one regarding Ventura and the other regarding “Jane.”
Judge Subramanian said that buying or arranging a ticket is enough to prove transportation, but that the government needed to prove at least one of those acts occurred in the court’s jurisdiction.
Ariana Baio30 June 2025 16:37
For jurors to find Combs guilty of sex trafficking, the government needed to prove that Combs transported one person to another place with reckless disregard that caused a person to engage in commercial sex acts.
Combs was charged with two counts of sex trafficking, one for his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and another for his ex-girlfriend known under the pseudonym “Jane.”
Jurors must be unanimous in at least one specific instance of sex trafficking.
Ariana Baio30 June 2025 16:29
The jury must determine whether or not Combs conspired with at least one other member of his alleged “criminal enterprise” to commit two crimes within 10 years of each other, Judge Subramanian instructed on Monday.
The first charge brought by the government was racketeering conspiracy – a serious allegation that carries a maximum sentencing of life in prison.
In their indictment, prosecutors alleged that Combs co-conspired to commit arson, transportation to engage in prostitution, kidnapping, bribery of a witness, sex trafficking, forced labor, witness tampering, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The judge instructed jurors that kidnapping occurs when the victim did not consent. Arson, as defined under California law, is the intentional act of setting or causing fire to something. Bribery requires a conspirator to have given, or promised to give, a bribe to a witness providing information to law enforcement.
Forced labor requires the use of force, or physical restraint, on a person who did not give consent or revoked consent. Witness tampering does not require a person to have become fearful, just that someone threatened a potential witness.
Distribution of narcotics means that a person knowingly and intentionally transferred narcotics to another person.
Jurors also must find that this behavior continued past 2019, because RICO has a five-year statute of limitations.
Ariana Baio30 June 2025 15:38
Ariana Baio30 June 2025 15:16
The defense for Sean “Diddy” Combs described the “tale of two trials” as the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial is soon to enter jury deliberations.
Ariana Baio30 June 2025 14:30
Court has begun for the day and Judge Arun Subramanian is beginning to read jury instructions to the panel of 12 New Yorkers.
Ariana Baio30 June 2025 14:27
Sean Combs is is facing two charges of sex trafficking, two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution and a racketeering conspiracy charge.
Combs faces up to life in prison if he is convicted on the racketeering charge.
If he is found guilty of sex trafficking, he faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years.
Transportation to engage in prostitution typically carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
James Liddell30 June 2025 13:59
James Liddell30 June 2025 13:45