Sean 'Diddy' Combs Was Met with a Standing Ovation from His Fellow Inmates After Court Verdict

NEED TO KNOW

• Sean "Diddy" Combs received a standing ovation from his fellow inmates when he returned to prison after being acquitted of the most serious charges against him, according to the lead attorney on his defense team

• The music mogul was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering — charges that could have resulted in life in prison — on July 2

• Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in the split verdict

Sean "Diddy" Combs was greeted with a standing ovation by his fellow inmates upon returning to prison after receiving an acquittal for the most serious charges against him, according to one of his attorneys.

On Wednesday, July 2, Combs, 55, was officially acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering — charges that could have led to life in prison had he been convicted.

The rapper’s lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, told PEOPLE that Combs’ fellow inmates viewed the acquittal as a sign of hope.

“They all said, ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government,’ “ Agnifilo said.

Agnifilo went on to describe his client’s overall mental and emotional state, explaining that he typically speaks with Combs four or five times a day.

“He’s doing okay,” Agnifilo told PEOPLE, adding that Combs “realizes he has flaws like everyone else that he never worked on.”

“He burns hot in all matters. I think what he has come to see is that he has these flaws and there’s no amount of fame and no amount of fortune that can erase them," the attorney continued. “You can’t cover them up.”

While Combs was not convicted of the most serious charges against him, he was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in the split verdict. This means he could face up to 20 years in prison if he is sentenced to consecutive maximum prison terms.

The mogul — who has been in jail since September 2024 — was denied bail by Judge Arun Subramanian during the July 2 court date and will therefore have to remain in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center until his sentencing on Oct. 3.

Over the course of the trial, which began in May, prosecutors called 34 witnesses over a total of 29 days of testimony. Among them was Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, Combs' ex, with whom he was in a relationship for 11 years.

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Prosecutors sought to prove that Ventura, 38, had been coerced into participating in "freak offs," which were elaborate sex performances with male sex workers.

Combs' attorneys argued throughout the trial that the sexual encounters had been consensual. They introduced several exhibits, including text messages, into evidence intended to reinforce that argument.

Though Combs was acquitted on the most serious counts against him, he still faces several dozen lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct, meaning his legal troubles are far from over.

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