EXCLUSIVE: Why Prosecutors Saw Their Sean 'Diddy' Combs Case Crumble — 'They Tried to Treat a Kinky Rapper Like a Mafia Don'

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' dramatic federal trial ended in a near-total collapse for prosecutors – with legal experts pointing to a critical miscalculation: attempting to portray the music mogul as the head of a criminal syndicate rather than a celebrity with a highly controversial lifestyle.

As RadarOnline.com was among the first to report after months of painstaking coverage of his sex trafficking trial, Combs, 55, was convicted on Wednesday, July 2, of just two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – charges that carry no mandatory minimum prison time – while being acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking.

The outcome marks a stunning turn in a case widely expected to yield much more serious convictions.

Combs has been in custody since his arrest in September 2024, after multiple requests for bail were denied.

The verdict came after a seven-week trial in Manhattan federal court, during which 34 witnesses – including former girlfriends and employees of the rapper – testified against the Bad Boy Records founder. But the jury ultimately rejected the prosecutions central argument Combs ran a long-standing criminal enterprise built on coercion, violence, and exploitation.

"Today's verdict is nothing less than a complete and total failure by the prosecution in what will go down as the most expensive prostitution trial in American history," said Neama Rahmani, 45, a former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers.

He added Combs is now likely to receive time served or a sentence of fewer than two years.

The most serious charge – racketeering conspiracy – carried a potential life sentence and was seen by prosecutors as the cornerstone of their case.

But jurors dismissed the claim, reflecting what experts describe as a fundamental weakness in the government’s strategy.

By applying RICO statutes – originally designed to combat organized crime syndicates – to Combs’ celebrity lifestyle, the case lost credibility in the eyes of the jury.

"The prosecution's only real shot at a meaningful conviction was RICO, but to win that, they needed a predicate act like kidnapping or extortion," said Rahmani. "Instead, they leaned too heavily on sex-related claims, and the jury saw too much evidence of consent."

Combs was found guilty of arranging travel for singer Cassandra 'Cassie' Ventura, 38, and another woman referred to as Jane, with the intent that they engage in paid sexual activity.

Both testified during the trial.

But their accounts failed to convince jurors the acts they described met the threshold for sex trafficking.

John W. Day, 51, a criminal defense attorney based in New Mexico, said the government overreached.

"They presented a tsunami of evidence over several weeks, but the jury didn’t buy the story," he said. "Trying to apply mob laws to a flamboyant rap star's lifestyle was always a stretch."

It backs up one of our sources, who said near the end of the trial outcome: "There just was nowhere near enough indisputable evidence to show he was acting like soe kind of sex-crazed mafia boss."

Day added the verdict reflected skepticism toward the narrative of victimhood presented by the prosecution.

He said: "Ultimately, the jury saw these women as participants in Combs' world, not prisoners of it."

Documents revealed prosecutors told Judge Arun Subramanian the preliminary sentencing range for Combs is 51 to 63 months.

They noted, however, the final guideline could change after further review.

Combs' defense has submitted a letter requesting bail ahead of sentencing, arguing he is not a flight risk and has complied fully with court proceedings.

The letter also emphasized the jury "unambiguously rejected" the central premise of the case – that Combs operated a criminal organization or trafficked women.

Celebrities and advocates who had supported the accusers expressed frustration at the verdict.

Comic Rosie O’Donnell, 62, posted on Instagram: "They just think women stay because what? Money – fame – 'They love the abuse' – what a f------ joke – this decision got me angry #cassie."

Prosecutors have not announced whether they intend to pursue additional charges or appeal the verdict, but legal experts say the result leaves them with few options.

Day added: "They need a black box like the ones used in plane crashes to figure out what went wrong here."