Prosecutors accused Combs of sexually abusing women and men and using threats and violence to coerce them into participating in drug and sex parties. He was ultimately convicted of prostituting women, but was found not guilty of the most serious charge—forming a criminal organization. He was also acquitted of two counts of sex trafficking.

Sentence to be imposed at a later date

The rapper, who has used the pseudonyms"Puff Daddy," "P. Diddy," and "Diddy" throughout his career, now faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years. However, life imprisonment, as he would have faced if he had been found guilty on all charges, is no longer an option. As usual, Judge Arun Subramanian will announce the sentence for Combs, who has been in custody since September, at a later date. The court expected to decide on Wednesday whether Combs can remain free until sentencing.

Combs accepted the verdict in the courtroom, with his mother and sister present. According to media reports, after the verdict, Combs clasped his hands together, briefly placed them over his face, and exhaled. He then smiled, shook hands with one of his lawyers, looked at his family, then clasped his hands together in gratitude and thanked the jurors in a quiet whisper.

Combs had pleaded not guilty

New York prosecutors had accused the rapper of abusing, threatening, and coercing women into fulfilling his sexual desires for years. They alleged that he ran a"criminal enterprise" with helpers. Several women had reported years of severe sexual and physical abuse during the trial, which lasted several weeks. Combs had denied all charges and pleaded not guilty.

The charge of conspiracy to commit organized crime was originally created for gang-related crimes such as those committed by the Mafia. This charge had already been successfully used in the trial of singer R. Kelly to expose a systematic pattern of sexual abuse. This charge against Combs carried serious weight – but the prosecution was unable to convince the jurors that the defendant carried out his actions in collaboration with a network of insiders. This requires knowledge by all involved that the conduct is criminal.

Intimate sex details publicly revealed

Due to numerous salacious aspects, the trial was also a clickbait and tabloid fest. Millions of Americans and people around the world followed the proceedings in the media, and the intimate and sometimes disturbing details of the case became part of many people's daily gossip.

The proceedings evoked memories of similar sexual offense trials against former superstars in recent years—including musician R. Kelly, comedian Bill Cosby, and producer Harvey Weinstein. The allegations against Weinstein sparked the global MeToo movement.

Numerous other allegations against Combs

In addition to the charges filed by the New York District Attorney's Office, there are also numerous civil lawsuits against Combs. A law firm in Houston, Texas, among others, says it is representing around 120 people with allegations against the rapper. Born in 1969 in the New York City borough of Harlem, Combs has been one of the world's most successful rappers in recent decades, with hits like"I'll Be Missing You" and "Bad Boy For Life."

The musician, who has been married three times and has seven children, also founded his own label and enjoyed success with a fashion brand. His family and rapper Kanye West, among others, expressed their support for Combs in the courtroom.