Diddy walked back into his Manhattan detention center to cheers and applause after a federal jury cleared him of sex trafficking and racketeering charges on July 2.

The rap mogul was convicted on two lesser counts tied to prostitution but managed to sidestep the most serious RICO allegations in a rare courtroom win against the federal government.

The verdict came after 13 hours of jury deliberation and nearly a year of legal turmoil following raids on Diddy’s properties in March 2024.

He’s been in custody since his September 2024 arrest.

His defense team, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, took a blunt approach—no witnesses—just sharp cross-examinations and a direct argument that Diddy’s actions didn’t meet the legal threshold for trafficking.

The moment Diddy returned to jail, inmates reportedly stood and clapped.

“They all said: ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government,’” Agnifilo told The Associated Press. “I said: ‘Maybe it’s your fate in life to be the guy who wins. They need to see that someone can win. I think he took that to heart.’”

The case had drawn national attention, with many legal observers noting that defendants seldom prevail in federal trials involving such charges.

Despite the partial victory, Diddy remains behind bars. Judge Arun Subramanian denied his request for bail, citing concerns over his past behavior and potential risk to the community. Prosecutors highlighted a pattern of violence and criminal conduct in their push to keep him detained.

Diddy was found guilty of two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of up to five years, while his defense team argues for a sentence closer to two years.

His sentencing is set for October 3.

Clayton Howard has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Cassie of forcing him into sex work with Diddy and exploiting his trauma for personal gain during their years-long association.

The former escort, who testified under the pseudonym “Dave” during Diddy’s federal sex trafficking investigation, now claims Cassie was not just a participant but a driving force in his alleged exploitation.

During an interview with TMZ, Howard alleges Cassie “embraced” Diddy’s influence and used it to manipulate him into sex acts with third parties.

“One, I was in an economic position where I really needed the money. Two, Mr. Combs is incredibly powerful and Ms. Ventura had no problem in her use of that power, which has actually been revealed now because we’ve heard recordings of her threatening people, we’ve seen text messages. There are many different sides to people…she has her side. There is a side for her that people don’t know, the side that manipulated Sean Combs’ power, the side that embraced his power and his position to do things that she wanted,” Howard said.

Howard’s complaint includes disturbing allegations, including being drugged, coerced into sex with strangers and infected with a sexually transmitted disease. He says he remained in the relationship for nearly a decade, driven by fear and financial dependence.

The lawsuit also takes aim at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, accusing prosecutors of ignoring male victims while focusing exclusively on Diddy’s alleged abuse of women.

Howard claims Cassie was not a passive victim but an active participant in the abuse.

“I was always afraid if I stopped coming, then I would start having problems because she threatened me several times to come and made me feel uncomfortable that I would come to see her just to avoid any problem with Sean Combs. He’s incredibly powerful. He has people that could follow me around damaging my life for years and it would cost him nothing to do it,” Howard added.

The complaint alleges she “used her position to lure and manipulate” him into situations that left him emotionally and physically scarred.

Howard’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, delayed filing the complaint until after Cassie’s testimony against Diddy was resolved, saying he wanted to avoid damaging her public image during the high-profile case.