ALBAWABA - Diddy faces life as jury convicted him of shocking crimes.
The federal case against Sean "Diddy" Combs has seen a significant development.
Four of the five counts against the rapper and CEO of Bad Boy Records were ultimately decided by the 12-member federal jury after two days of deliberations. The jury was charged with racketeering and sex trafficking. They are still awaiting a verdict on one count, but they are not yet permitted to make the announcement.
This surprising announcement was made following over 12 hours of discussion. The eight-member jury, which included four women, stated that they were unable to achieve a unanimous finding on the racketeering conspiracy allegation, but they did reach verdicts on four charges of sex trafficking and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 04: P. Diddy (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images/AFP)
"We have reached verdicts on counts 2, 3, 4, and 5," the jury note said, referring to two counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution and two counts of sex trafficking. "We did not reach a verdict on the first count because we had unconvincing jurors on both sides," the document went on to say, alluding to the count under the Racketeer Indictment and Criminal Organizations Act (RICO), which is commonly used to prosecute drug cartels and mafia organizations.
Both the defense and the prosecution consented to the request made by Judge Arun Subramanian for the jury to begin deliberations on Wednesday. He said, "It is your duty as jurors to consult with one another with the goal of reaching an agreement." Furthermore, he reiterated his previous directives, saying, "Each of you must decide based on your own personal convictions, but after studying the case with the other jurors, feel free to change your opinion if it proves to be wrong." Additionally, the court said, "But do not abandon your sincere convictions just to reach a final verdict."
King Combs (R), son of Sean "Diddy" Combs (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)
Surrounded by his legal team, Sean Combs sat at the defense table with his head bent. Watching the jurors come into the courtroom to hear the judge's directions, he seemed preoccupied. His three kids were among the family members and supporters who had already started to arrive in the courtroom. He greeted them briefly and smiled nervously.
The defense side agreed to the government's suggestion that jurors may be permitted to use the courtroom if they still need to deliberate, even though the court is set to close on Thursday for the Fourth of July vacation.
Sean Diddy Combs will face severe punishment.
The following charges have been confirmed thus far:
The maximum punishment for two counts of forced sex trafficking, one for each accused victim, is life in prison. There are two counts of transporting people for prostitution, each of which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in jail.
Sean Combs's racketeering conspiracy accusation puts him in a more serious category because it shows that he employed a network of collaborators, including senior staff members on his team, to commit or conceal several crimes, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, forced labor, arson, and kidnapping.
The government must demonstrate that Combs planned and carried out these offenses in concert with a network of reliable people rather than acting alone to prove this particular charge.
If found guilty of the sex trafficking charge, Combs would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years. The maximum penalty for the accusation of transportation for prostitution is ten years.
