Diddy Trial: Several Charges Dropped

Prosecutors have removed some of the charges related to their sprawling indictment of Sean “Diddy” Combs as the government is looking to create clear instructions for the jury.

Attorneys for the Southern District of New York said they are removing instructions from the charge that relate to attempted kidnapping, attempted arson and aiding and abetting sex trafficking, according to court filings.

“The Government is no longer planning to proceed on these theories of liability so instructions are no longer necessary,” prosecutors wrote in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday.

The decision does not change the charges the office brought against Combs, but simplifies which predicate acts the jury should focus on when deliberating on a verdict.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Prosecutors say they will be focusing on the forced labor and sex trafficking portions of the charge.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act requires proof of at least two predicate acts, or criminal offenses. The predicate acts must be related and demonstrate a pattern of criminal activity connected to an enterprise.

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their case in the six-week criminal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs on Tuesday.

Combs’ defense team only introduced exhibits into evidence as their presentation, calling no witnesses to the stand. Prosecutors finished questioning their last witness, Joseph Cerciello, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations, marking the end of their nearly 30-day case.

Closing arguments will begin Thursday, and the two sides will launch their last bid to sway a 12-member jury.

The two sides will be engaged in a charging conference Wednesday where they will work with the judge to hammer out final jury instructions.