What racketeering conspiracy means as Diddy is found not guilty of most serious charge
The jury has reached its final verdict on Sean' Diddy' Combs' charges, with the music mogul receiving two guilty charges and three acquittals.
Starting in May, Combs' trial finally came to an end today (2 July), with the rapper being found guilty by a jury for two counts of transportation for prostitution of both his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura and 'Jane'.
The 55-year-old was found not guilty of the weightiest charge against him - racketeering conspiracy – as well as two charges of sex trafficking.
Combs had pleaded not guilty and denied all the allegations made against him. During the trial, jurors were tasked with listening to harrowing courtroom testimony and viewing a host of graphic evidence levied against him.
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Jurors reached a verdict on four of the five counts on Tuesday (1 July), but could not agree on the racketeering conspiracy charge.
His total charges and verdicts are as follows:
- Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy- Not guilty
- Count 2: Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura- Not guilty
- Count 3: Transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others- Guilty
- Count 4: Sex trafficking of woman known as 'Jane'- Not guilty
- Count 5: Transportation for prostitution of 'Jane' and others- Guilty
What is racketeering?
Diddy was initially accused of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution after his shock arrest last September, which saw his home ransacked by FBI agents looking for evidence.
So, what is racketeering?
Essentially, the charge was created in the US to combat the mafia’s hold on the cities as they engaged in organised crimes and used legitimate businesses to cover up and carry out their illegal activities, according to the BBC.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
The government charged Combs with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations conspiracy act as they accused him of creating a criminal enterprise using his staff and associates 'to fulfil his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct'.
Prosecutors accused him of using his staff and associates to commit his crimes which includes sex trafficking, kidnapping, forced labour, bribery, arson, and obstruction of justice from at least 2008, The Independent reports.
Under the RICO Act, 'racketeering activity' covers things like bribery, arson, extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
According to the Department of Justice, a conspiracy involves two or more people agreeing to commit an illegal act and then taking steps to complete it.
The BBC says that in order to convict the rapper on this charge, prosecutors would have to prove that he'd used people to run a network to commit criminal activities, like sex trafficking, for example.
Why was Diddy acquitted of racketeering?
Robert Mintz, a criminal defence lawyer and former federal prosecutor, told the BBC that the racketeering charge was always going to be the hardest to prove.
This is because the prosecution had to put forth that Combs had established a co-ordinated plan with at least one other person to commit at least two crimes, Mintz said.
"It's a very complicated charge, used typically in the past in organized crime prosecution," he added.
During the trial, Combs' lawyers asked witnesses if his employees had ever witnessed the 'freak-offs', with Ventura adding that she did not think they were present.
This led the defence to argue that it could not be considered racketeering if they did not know what was happening.
What sentence is Diddy facing?
Diddy is now facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison per charge, though it will be the judge's decision as to how long his sentence is.
He will also be sentenced at a later date - which has not yet been set. However, Prosecutor Maurene Comey said that she will push for 20 years.
Topics: Diddy, Music, Celebrity, Crime, Cassie Ventura
Britt Jones