Lawyer calls verdict a “huge win” despite potential 20-year sentence
July 3, 2025 — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been found guilty on two counts of violating federal law by transporting individuals across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. However, he was acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Despite the partial victory, the 55-year-old music mogul will remain in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits sentencing later this year.
Legal Team Celebrates Partial Victory
Following the verdict, Combs’ attorney, Anna Estavao, addressed reporters outside the courthouse, calling the outcome an “enormous victory.”
“This is a huge win. He was acquitted of sex trafficking, acquitted of RICO conspiracy, and he will sleep well at night knowing that,” she said.
Estavao also took aim at the justice system, saying the verdict should serve as a reminder to the public to “take a second look” at how prosecutors pursue charges.
No Bail for Diddy
Despite the acquittals, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that Combs must remain behind bars until sentencing. The judge cited the Mann Act, which mandates detention for certain violations. Enacted in 1910 and revised over the years, the law prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for sexual purposes considered criminal under U.S. law.
“The defendant is unable to meet his burden to show lack of danger to any person or the community,” Judge Subramanian stated.
“There is no reason to reverse the earlier denial of bail.”
Trial Recap: Behind Closed Doors
The trial, held behind closed doors with no media cameras allowed, lasted several weeks. Prosecutors alleged that Combs orchestrated a criminal enterprise involving sexual coercion, interstate travel, and violence. However, the jury — after 13 hours of deliberation — cleared him of racketeering and sex trafficking, focusing instead on two counts related to transportation for prostitution under the Mann Act.
Potential Sentence
With the convictions on two federal charges, Combs now faces up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing date has not yet been announced.
Combs, who has spent nearly 10 months in custody, made a plea for leniency during the trial, asking the court to release him so he could care for his elderly mother in Florida — a request the judge denied.
What’s Next?
Though he avoided the most damaging legal outcomes, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs now awaits a potentially lengthy prison sentence. Meanwhile, his legal team is expected to file motions ahead of sentencing and may appeal the conviction. The case continues to spark public debate over celebrity accountability, legal reform, and the limits of federal prosecution.
