New York — Sean “Diddy” Combs received a standing ovation from fellow inmates upon returning to jail after being acquitted of serious sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges—an emotional moment his lawyer says could inspire incarcerated Black men nationwide.
“They all told him, ‘We never see anyone beat the government,’” said Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo in an interview with the Associated Press just days after the high-profile verdict.
Despite the legal win, Combs, 55, remains behind bars at a federal detention center in Brooklyn. He was convicted on lesser prostitution-related charges, which could keep him locked up for several more years. He has already served nearly 10 months.
The case against the music mogul began in March 2024, when federal agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. Agnifilo said he warned Combs to brace for sex trafficking charges.
“I told him, maybe your purpose is to be the one who wins,” Agnifilo recalled. “They need to see that someone can win. I think that really stuck with him.”
Tough Strategy, Big Win
The verdict followed an intense eight-week trial in Manhattan federal court. Agnifilo led an eight-member defense team that mounted a blunt, calculated strategy—one that jurors clearly connected with.
Combs, often passing notes to his attorneys, watched as they cross-examined nearly three dozen witnesses, including former employees. The team openly acknowledged Combs’ turbulent personal life, portraying him as a flawed man—not a criminal conspirator.
“You might think he’s a terrible boyfriend,” defense lawyer Teny Geragos told jurors during opening arguments. “But that’s not sex trafficking.”
According to Agnifilo, the approach was intentional: “The violence was out in the open, and we knew the government would try to twist it into something it wasn’t. We had to define it first.”
When jurors initially announced they were deadlocked on the racketeering count, but had verdicts on other charges, Combs and his team feared the worst. But after a tense night, Agnifilo awoke early the next day with a gut feeling.
“I texted Teny at 3 a.m. and said, ‘We need a bail motion ready. He’s probably only going down on prostitution,’” he said.
Later that morning, Combs appeared in court rejuvenated and hopeful. The jury ultimately acquitted him of the most serious charges, just as Agnifilo predicted. Combs mouthed “thank you” to the jurors. Applause broke out. Several members of the defense team, including Geragos, were moved to tears.
“Dream Team” Beats the Odds
The courtroom celebration marked a rare defeat for federal prosecutors, who rarely lose such high-profile cases. Former federal prosecutor Mitchell Epner called it a major upset.
“They were up against a dream team,” he said.
Throughout the trial, Combs’ lawyers avoided flashy theatrics. Instead, they calmly dismantled the prosecution’s case with strategic cross-examinations—without calling a single witness.
Former Manhattan federal prosecutor Sarah Krissoff said the legal strategy was “masterful.”
Ironically, Agnifilo once helped expand the same racketeering laws used against Combs while serving on an organized crime task force in New Jersey decades ago. “I knew the weaknesses,” he said. “The prosecution built a racketeering case around his personal assistants.”
Even those assistants, shown videos of Combs abusing ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, still offered praise for him under cross-examination.
What’s Next for Combs?
Though acquitted on major charges, Combs faces time for the prostitution convictions. Agnifilo expects him to resume work on himself once freed, including reentering a domestic abuse rehabilitation program he began before his arrest.
“He knows he has flaws he never dealt with,” Agnifilo said. “There’s no amount of fame or money that can cover those up.”
Chaos in the Courthouse
A dramatic day in court ended with an unexpected emergency: a man collapsed outside the courtroom with seizures. Agnifilo—trained in seizure response—sprang into action. He rolled the man on his side and kept him safe while his legal partner Jacob Kaplan and his daughter assisted.
“We just acted,” Agnifilo said. “I was worried for him.”
As paramedics took the man away, Agnifilo was left to reflect on a surreal day of emotional highs and life-saving urgency.
“It was like I was getting punked by God,” he said.
