Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found not guilty of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, but guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution after a nearly two-month long federal trial in New York City.
Prosecutors had accused Combs of using his celebrity status and business empire to run a criminal enterprise to sex traffic women and conceal his crimes.
A panel of 12 jurors deliberated for 13 hours before acquitting Combs of three of the most serious five charges he was facing.
The rapper had admitted to domestic violence, but denied any non-consensual sexual encounters or a larger racketeering scheme.
The mood in the courtroom was extremely emotional after jurors told the court they had acquitted Combs of the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Before Combs left court, he got on his knees, put his face into his chair and appeared to be praying. He was shaking.
The judge will consider whether to release Combs on bail at 13:00 EST (18:00 BST).
The verdict comes after jurors on Tuesday told the court that they had reached a decision on the sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges against Combs, but they were unable to reach a verdict on the racketeering count.
The jurors said they had “unpersuadable” opinions on both sides about the charge, which is the most complicated of any of the counts Combs was facing and also the most severe.
Racketeering conspiracy, or directing an illegal enterprise under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (Rico), is the formal name for the charge. —BBC