Cassie Ventura’s legal team issued a pointed statement following Diddy’s partial acquittal in a federal RICO case, saying her decision to come forward helped expose long-ignored abuse in the entertainment world.

On Wednesday (July 2), a Manhattan jury found the 55-year-old mogul guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but cleared him of racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

The acquittals spared Diddy from a potential life sentence, though he still faces up to 20 years behind bars, although it’s doubtful he’ll get that much time.

Attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura, said the case began with her bravery.

“This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,” Wigdor said in a statement. “Although the jury did not find [Diddy] guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.”

Diddy, who has been jailed in New York since his September 2024 arrest, showed little emotion as the verdicts were announced. He held his hands together in a prayer-like gesture and gave a slight fist pump.

After the court adjourned, Diddy reportedly knelt beside his chair and bowed his head as relatives applauded. He told them he “will be home soon” as he was being led back into custody.

Wigdor praised Ventura’s role in the case, saying, “By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors.”

Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, requested that the court release his client on bail and allow him to return to his Florida home.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey opposed the motion, warning the court there is a “real risk that he will flagrantly disregard orders from this court, that he will commit new crimes and that he will attempt to flee justice.”

Judge Arun Subramanian asked both parties to submit written arguments before making a decision on bail.

Diddy has denied all allegations and still faces multiple civil lawsuits related to sexual abuse. Ventura’s initial lawsuit, filed in November 2023, was quickly settled privately for $20 million.

Diddy walked away from the most severe charges in his federal case in New York but still faces prison time after a jury convicted him on two counts tied to prostitution.

The Hip-Hop mogul was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion—charges that carried potential life sentences.

However, jurors found him guilty of violating the federal Mann Act by transporting two women, including singer Cassie Ventura and another identified only as “Jane,” across state lines for prostitution.

The verdict followed three days of deliberations and more than 12 hours of discussion by the jury. Prosecutors presented testimony from 34 witnesses. Diddy did not call any witnesses in his defense.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York issued a statement after the verdict, emphasizing the broader impact of sex crimes and the importance of victim-centered justice.

“Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society,” prosecutors said. “Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma. New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice.”

The statement also acknowledged the courage of those who testified and credited the agencies involved in the investigation.

“Prosecuting sex crimes requires brave victims to come forward and tell their harrowing stories,” the statement continued. “We and our law enforcement partners recognize the hardships victims endure and have prioritized a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases.”

Federal officials also praised the work of the SDNY’s Civil Rights Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, and the NYPD, among others, for their roles in the case.

Diddy, 55, now faces up to 20 years in prison—10 years for each of the two Mann Act violations. Although he avoided the most serious charges, the convictions could still derail his career in music, business and media.

He has requested to be released on a $1 million bond while awaiting sentencing. A date for sentencing has not been announced yet.

Diddy sat still in a Manhattan federal courtroom Tuesday (July 1) afternoon as jurors announced they had reached decisions on four of five criminal charges but remained at odds over the most serious allegation — racketeering conspiracy.

At 4:05 p.m. ET, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian read a note from the jury stating they had reached unanimous verdicts on Counts 2 through 5 but were split on Count 1.

That charge accuses the Bad Boy Records mogul of running a criminal organization that trafficked women, laundered money and used violence to maintain control — the centerpiece of the federal government’s case.

The judge declined to reveal the jury’s decisions on the four resolved counts, which include two charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and two counts of transporting women across state lines for prostitution.

Instead, he instructed the panel to continue deliberating on the racketeering charge, hoping to reach a unanimous verdict.

The jury will return Wednesday morning (July 2) to resume discussions. If they remain deadlocked on Count 1, the court could accept the partial verdicts and declare a mistrial on the unresolved charge.

The deliberations have stretched into a second day and have already produced five notes to the judge. One note raised concerns about a juror’s ability to follow legal instructions.

Another note asked for clarification on drug distribution, specifically whether handing over controlled substances at someone’s request constitutes distribution. That inquiry came as jurors reviewed testimony involving alleged drug use and transactions during private encounters described in court.

Jurors also requested transcripts of testimony from Cassie Ventura and Daniel Phillip. Ventura, a former girlfriend of Diddy, testified about a 2016 incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles and described events that occurred during a trip to the Cannes Film Festival.

She also detailed so-called “freak offs” involving Phillip, a sex worker allegedly hired by Diddy. Phillip’s testimony included descriptions of encounters at the Essex Hotel. Jurors asked for specific portions of his statements related to those events.

Diddy, who has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty, faces five federal charges. If convicted on all counts, he could face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Deliberations will resume Wednesday morning as jurors attempt to reach a consensus on the racketeering conspiracy charge.