Diddy convicted of prostitution, will remain in prison: Here's what happened in the case

American rapper and producer Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted of five federal charges of “transporting persons for the purpose of prostitution,” but was acquitted of more serious charges of “sex trafficking” and “conspiracy to commit racketeering.” Here’s everything you need to know about Diddy’s case.

Combs' attorneys argued that their client was not a flight risk, but the judge in the case, Arun Subramanian, rejected that argument and ordered his continued detention.

Combs’ first accusation began on November 16, 2023, when his ex-girlfriend, singer and dancer Cassie Ventura, accused him of harassment and assault. Cassie’s attorneys say that she had been subjected to Combs’ violent behavior and harassing demands for more than a decade, including repeated assaults and “forced sexual intercourse with male sex workers.” Cassie also says that the rapper forced his way into her home and raped her in 2018 when she was trying to break up with Combs. The lawsuit says Cassie repeatedly told him “no” and repeatedly tried to push him away.

Another important accusation in Ventura's lawsuit against Combs was that Combs had uncontrollable fits of rage during their relationship and had brutally physically abused Ventura. The lawsuit also names Kid Cudi, one of the influential names in the rap community. According to Ventura's statement, Combs blew up Cudi's car in 2012 because Kid Cudi allegedly had a romantic interest in Ventura.

Less than 24 hours after the lawsuit was announced, it was reported that Cassie and Diddy had reached a settlement. The terms of the agreement are unknown. “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably, with some level of control remaining in my hands,” Cassie said in a statement released by her attorney, Douglas Wigdor. “I would like to thank my family, fans, and attorneys for their continued support.”

Combs responded with the following statement:

"We have decided to resolve this amicably. I wish Cassie and her family the best. Love."

Kid Cudi, who came to the court to testify on May 22, 2025, also said that Diddy blew up his car.

On November 23, 2023, the day before New York’s Adult Victims Act expires, two more women filed sexual assault lawsuits against Combs. One of the women, who chose to remain anonymous, said she was sexually and physically abused by Combs.

The other plaintiff is a woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal, who said Combs drugged and raped her against her will in 1991 while she was a college student. He also said he had video footage of the attack and distributed it to the music industry.

Another rape charge was filed against Combs on December 6, 2023. An anonymous Jane Doe* said she was forced into sex trafficking and gang raped by Combs, former Bad Boy Records President Harve Pierre, and another person in 2003, when she was 17 years old.

The rapper later released a statement on social media denying all of the accusations:

"Enough is enough. For the last few weeks, I have sat silently by and watched as people tried to destroy my character, my reputation and my legacy. Disgusting allegations have been made against me by people looking to make a quick buck. To be clear: I did not do any of the terrible things alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and the truth."

On February 26, 2024, Combs was sued by music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr. for sexual harassment, assault and bullying. She said the rapper touched her body and tried to persuade her and members of his team to engage in sexual intercourse.

Lil Rod also alleged that Combs forced him to procure sex workers, some of whom were underage, and that he was forced to force these women to engage in sexual acts “for Mr. Combs’ pleasure.”

Jones Jr. testified that one night in February 2023, he woke up naked, dizzy and confused in bed with the Bad Boy entertainer and two sex workers at the Miami home of famed producer Combs.

On March 25, 2024, Brendan Paul, 25, accused of being a drug “courier” for Diddy, was arrested at Opa-Locka Airport at the same time as raids on Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami. Brendan Paul was booked on two counts of possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.

On May 17, 2024, security footage emerged of Diddy physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie. Two days later, Diddy made a statement and shared an apology video, saying that this was one of the darkest times of his life. On April 17, 2025, Diddy filed a motion through his lawyers to block the video from being used in court.

On May 21, 2024, model Crystal McKinney filed a lawsuit against Diddy, alleging that he forced her to perform oral sex on him at a New York recording studio in 2003. McKinney stated that she was given alcohol and marijuana during the incident, which she believed were mixed with narcotics or another intoxicant.

She said she woke up in a taxi after the incident and was in shock. Combs' record label Bad Boy Records, its parent company Universal Music Group and clothing brand Sean John Clothing are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

According to McKinney’s allegations, those companies knew Combs was a risk for sexual assault but actively kept her in positions of power and employed her, paving the way for the assault.

Diddy was arrested in Manhattan on September 16, 2024, following a grand jury indictment. His attorneys released the following statement:

“We are disappointed in the decision by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue unfair prosecution of Mr. Combs. Mr. Combs is innocent, simply flawed. We would like to note that Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative in this investigation and voluntarily moved to New York last week in anticipation of the charges. Please reserve judgment until all the facts are revealed. These are the actions of an innocent man who has nothing to hide, and he looks forward to being acquitted in court.”

Within a day of his arrest, the charges were formally announced and his bail request was denied.

The lawsuits against Combs have not stopped since his arrest. A woman named Thalia Graves alleged that Combs and his security chief Joseph Sherman left her alone in the studio, drugged her and sexually assaulted her. The lawsuit also alleged that the rapper recorded the assault and later showed it to others.

Two days later, another woman, who spoke anonymously, said she had been subjected to violence by Combs for years, starting in 2020. Jane Doe said in her statement that Combs had forced her to have drugs and that other women and men had been forced to engage in sexual activity with him. She also said she became pregnant by Combs in 2022, that the rapper had forced her to have an abortion, and that she had a miscarriage.

Six new lawsuits were filed against Combs on October 14, 2024. At a press conference on October 1, Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee announced that his law firm and AVA Law Group are preparing to jointly represent at least 120 people in lawsuits against Combs. Buzbee and Los Angeles attorney Andrew Van Arsdale filed the first six sexual abuse lawsuits against Diddy in Manhattan federal court on October 14. Four of the defendants are men and two are women.

One woman claims Combs pulled her into a bathroom and violently raped her at a Notorious BIG music video launch in 1995. One man claims he was 16 and sexually assaulted by Combs while attending one of his famous “white parties” in the Hamptons in 1998.

On October 20, 2024, attorneys Andrew Van Arsdale and Tony Buzbee filed six new harassment lawsuits against Combs, including the 2022 assaults and the rapper's alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl at a house party in 2000, in the presence of other celebrities.

The filings also include accusations that Combs repeatedly drugged and forced both men and women into sex, including an unnamed music artist who claimed the rapper raped her at a party and a personal trainer who said in 2022 that Combs forced her into sex with others.

On October 28, 2024, two John Doe* lawsuits were filed in New York Supreme Court. In the first, a man who auditioned for Making the Band in 2008 when he was 17 years old said he was sexually assaulted by Diddy and his bodyguard. He said Diddy masturbated in front of him and that he was eliminated from the competition because he refused to perform oral sex on the bodyguard. In the other lawsuit, a 10-year-old John Doe said he was forced to perform oral sex by Combs during a fake audition and that he lost consciousness.

On November 19, 2024, attorney Tony Buzbee filed three new sexual assault lawsuits against Diddy in New York federal court. The first lawsuit involved a 17-year-old woman who alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Combs at a July 4 party in New York City. The second victim, an 18-year-old woman, said she was assaulted by Combs after a club party. The third lawsuit was filed by John Doe, who said he was raped at a party hosted by Combs in 2022.

A new lawsuit filed by John Doe on February 3, 2025, alleges that Diddy drugged and sexually assaulted her after a show in Los Angeles in 2015. The plaintiff claims Combs set her up by promising her a record deal.

On February 27, 2025, a male escort filed a lawsuit claiming that he was sexually assaulted and threatened by Diddy. The lawsuit, filed under the pseudonym John Doe, said the victim met Diddy in 2012 through a Florida-based male dating service. Doe said Combs assaulted him at the Intercontinental Hotel in New York. The lawsuit seeks emotional harm and compensation.

On November 29, 2024, fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan filed a lawsuit against Combs, claiming that Diddy choked her and hung her over a 16th-story balcony in 2016. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, is a 17-page motion and includes accusations of sexual assault, emotional harm, and deprivation of liberty. Bongolan is seeking $10 million in damages.

On December 8, 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Jay-Z and Diddy by attorney Tony Buzbee for allegedly abusing a 13-year-old child at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards party. Jane Doe, who remains anonymous, said she was drugged and abused by both artists.

Jay-Z's attorney Alex Spiro denied the allegations and said he expected the case to be dismissed soon. Spiro said of his client's relationship with Combs, "Mr. Carter has nothing to do with Combs' case or with him. They are professional acquaintances, just like in other professions. They support each other at music awards shows and NBA All-Star games. Their relationship goes no further than that. These allegations are purely fictitious." The case was dismissed on February 14, 2025.

On December 20, 2024, two new rape lawsuits were filed against Combs before Christmas. The first lawsuit alleges that Diddy raped a woman at a New York charity basketball event in December 1991, before Diddy was even famous. The lawsuit was filed anonymously by attorney Tony Buzbee. The second lawsuit is from Oklahoma's LaTroya Grayson, who claims she was drugged and raped by Combs at a party she attended after winning a radio contest in 2006. Grayson named Bad Boy Records as defendants in addition to Combs.

On January 27, 2025, Investigation Discovery released The Fall of Diddy, a four-part documentary about the sexual misconduct allegations and lawsuits filed against Diddy. In the documentary, people who worked with Diddy, his college friends, and those who made accusations against him came on camera to talk about their experiences.

On April 3, 2025, prosecutors added two new charges to the comprehensive indictment against Combs. The new charges include sex trafficking and forcing a victim to travel for the purpose of prostitution. Combs is alleged to have forced a woman to engage in commercial sexual intercourse by 2024. These new charges bring Combs' total charges from three to five. His attorneys continue to deny all charges.

In the Diddy case, one of Combs’ exes, whose name is withheld, testified in court on June 5, 2025. The woman, who testified under the pseudonym “Jane,” described how Diddy forced her into 24-hour sex acts with multiple escorts, known as “freak-offs.” She said Diddy felt obligated to participate in these sexual activities because he was paying her rent and bills. She also testified that when she asked him to stop when she was in pain or requested the use of a condom, Diddy refused.

One of the woman's messages to Combs was shared in court:

"I don't want to play this role in your life anymore. It's dark, it's disgusting, and it makes me feel disgusted with myself. I don't want to feel like I have to live these nights just to avoid being homeless."

The jury acquitted Combs of the most serious charge, conspiracy to commit racketeering, a charge punishable by life in prison under the U.S. RICO Act. Prosecutors alleged Combs directed his employees to engage in sex trafficking, kidnapping and extortion.

However, the jury found that Combs was not clearly responsible for the crime. After the verdict, some human rights organizations argued that the justice system was still limited for famous and wealthy defendants.

All eyes are on Combs' sentencing hearing, scheduled for October 3, 2025. He could face a sentence of 20 years in prison, with 10 years on each of the two counts he was found guilty of. However, under federal sentencing guidelines, that is expected to be around five years. Defense attorneys argue that a sentence longer than two years would be disproportionate. Combs' attorneys are expected to appeal after the sentence is finalized. Federal appeals processes in the US can take years.

Nine people were killed and 29 injured in a stampede at a basketball event at City College in New York in 1991. Combs, who was criticized for lack of security, settled lawsuits filed over the incident.

Tensions between Bad Boy and Death Row escalated in 1995 when Death Row security guard Jake Robles was shot to death at an Atlanta club. Accusations were directed at Combs' crew, but he denied the accusations.

Combs pleaded guilty in 1998 to assaulting music executive Steve Stoute with a champagne bottle in his office over a music video dispute, and was sentenced to one day of anger management.

Combs and singer Shyne were involved in a shooting at Club New York in 1999. Three people were injured. Combs was charged with the weapons found in the vehicle but was acquitted. Shyne received a 10-year sentence. He was arrested with Jennifer Lopez the same year.

It was rumored that he had tensions with Kendrick Lamar and got into a scuffle with J. Cole at an MTV VMA after-party in 2013. Although the incident was denied, J. Cole has referenced it in his songs.

A copyright dispute with Drake escalated into a physical fight in 2014. Combs denied allegations that he threw a punch.

He got into an argument with a football coach during his son Justin's practice at UCLA in 2015. He was accused of throwing a kettlebell, but the charge was dropped.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is an American producer, entrepreneur, and artist who has played a significant role in the rise of hip-hop music since the 1990s. Born in Harlem, Combs has seven children. He began his career as an intern at Uptown Records and was instrumental in the rise of artists such as Mary J. Blige and Jodeci. However, his real breakthrough came with Bad Boy Records, which he founded in 1993. The company, which acquired artists such as Notorious BIG, Faith Evans, and Ma$e, quickly made its mark on the 1990s music scene.

Combs occasionally used the stage names "Puff Daddy", "P. Diddy", "Diddy" and "Love". In 1997, after the murder of his close friend Notorious B.I.G., he released "I'll Be Missing You", which became a huge hit worldwide. His first album, No Way Out , released the same year, sold over seven million copies.

Combs, who has become an influential figure in the business world as well as his music career, has increased the sales of his alcohol brand to millions thanks to his deal with Cîroc vodka in 2007. He also founded the media platform Revolt TV and won design awards with his fashion brand Sean John. He carried the title of "highest-earning hip-hop artist" on Forbes lists until 2023.

Combs continues to nurture his power and influence in the music industry through media. He worked with names like The Weeknd, Justin Bieber and Mary J. Blige on his 2023 album The Love Album: Off the Grid .

Source: BBC & Billboard & Rolling Stone

*Jane Doe and John Doe are common names given to unidentified individuals in the United States.