Cassie Ventura responds after Diddy found guilty of transporting women for prostitution

After a two-month trial, rapper and producer Sean "Diddy" Combs has been found guilty of transporting his former partner, singer Cassie Ventura, for the purpose of prostitution. The verdict followed three days of deliberation by the jury, totaling 13 hours.

Combs, 55, was charged with multiple offenses including sex trafficking and racketeering. While he was acquitted of sex trafficking Ventura and another woman referred to only as “Jane,” he was convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution. He was also found not guilty on the racketeering charge. The two convictions carry a maximum potential sentence of 10 years.

Ventura, 38, testified across four days in June, recounting years of alleged abuse during her on-and-off relationship with Combs, which lasted from 2007 to 2018. She described instances of physical violence, including a 2016 incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, supported by surveillance footage. Ventura also spoke about being coerced into so-called “freak offs”—sex parties orchestrated by Combs.

Following the verdict, Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, praised her decision to come forward. “This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,” he said. “Although the jury did not find Combs 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.”

Outside the courtroom, Ventura’s husband, Alex Fine, also publicly acknowledged her bravery. “Cassie saved Cassie. She alone broke free from abuse, coercion, violence and threats,” he said.

Beyond the courtroom, Ventura has continued to build a career in music, acting, and modeling. She rose to prominence with her 2006 single Me & U and has appeared in films such as Step Up 2: The Streets and The Perfect Match. She is now married to wellness consultant Alex Fine, with whom she shares three children.