RICO was designed for mob prosecutions for crime organization that engaged in traditional organized crime activity. This could have been a stretch for the prosecutors to convince jurors that Diddy’s high flying world was the equivalent of a crime mob.
Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ jury reached a verdict on four of the five counts, which definitely reassured the prosecutors a bit, according to an expert.
John W. Day, trial attorney and former Deputy District Attorney in Northern New Mexico told the Mirror US, “The prosecutors are breathing a little easier right now knowing that the jury did not ‘hang’ or reach a split verdict on the two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation for prostitution.”
However, there is a key caveat. The jury is still deadlocked on the first count, racketeering conspiracy, according to a note they sent to the judge Tuesday afternoon. They were instructed to continue deliberating by the judge, who, rather than a clear Allen charge, said, “I received your note that you have reached verdicts on count 2-5 but not on count 1. I ask at this time that you keep deliberating.”
Day pointed out that RICO is a tough charge to prove, especially when the burden of proof is so high in a criminal proceeding. “RICO has always been the tough count for the jury. The prosecutors had to prove to the jury that Diddy was running a criminal enterpriser and that could have been based on drug trafficking, sex trafficking, money laundering, and that he was using his business associates to operate the enterprise,” he noted.
