NEW YORK — Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal trial told a judge on Tuesday they had reached a verdict on all but one of the charges in his sex trafficking case, which could send the music mogul to prison for life.
After more than 12 hours of deliberation, the panel said it had decided on four counts of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, but it had not been able to reach a unanimous decision on a charge of racketeering conspiracy.
Judge Arun Subramanian told jurors to continue deliberating Wednesday, which both the prosecution and the defense supported.
“It is your duty as jurors to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement,” he said, repeating his instructions from Monday morning.
“Each of you must decide the case for himself or herself, but you should do so only after a consideration of the case with your fellow jurors, and you should not hesitate to change an opinion when convinced that it is erroneous.”
“You’re not bound to surrender your honest convictions,” the judge added, “for the mere purpose of returning a verdict.”
Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, hung his head as he sat at the defense table, where his team huddled around him. His eyes followed the jury as they walked into the courtroom to receive the judge’s instructions. Earlier, his family and supporters had trickled into the gallery — including his three daughters — and Combs had given them a quick wave and an anxious smile.
The court was scheduled to be closed on Thursday ahead of the July Fourth holiday, but the government said it would give jurors the option of using the court if still needed. The defense agreed that it would be acceptable to continue deliberations on Thursday, if necessary.
Two counts of forcible sex trafficking, one for each alleged victim, carry maximum life sentences. Two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution each have a maximum 10-year sentence.
And a sprawling racketeering conspiracy charge — in which Combs is accused of using a network of trusted associates to carry out and cover up crimes as varied as arson, kidnapping, forced labor and drug distribution — also could put him in prison for life.
Unlike the other charges in this trial, racketeering conspiracy requires the government to prove that Combs didn’t act alone, but conspired with a group of trusted people — essentially his top staff — to carry out at least two illegal acts from a long list of categories, including kidnapping, arson, sex trafficking, physical abuse and drug distribution.
Kingsberry reported from Washington.
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