What is the Mann Act? Here's what to know about the law used to convict Sean 'Diddy' Combs

After deliberating for less than an hour Wednesday morning, the jury in the Shandy Combs case indicated that they had reached *** unanimous verdict not guilty on the most serious charges of racketeering conspiracy, but guilty of transportation. To engage in prostitution. This ruling from the jury in this case prompted big reactions from Holmes and his family who were overjoyed at this news and big reactions outside of the courthouse where Holmes has some supporters. The jury in the federal trial of hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs has come to *** verdict guilty on the charge of transportation to engage in prostitution, but not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. The jury made up of 8 men and 4 women, heard from 34 witnesses called by the prosecution, including two of Combs's former girlfriends, Cassie Ventura, and *** woman testifying under the. Alias Jane. Both women testified Combs forced them to engage in sexual encounters referred to as freak offs and hotel nights. Ventura spoke on the stand about violence she endured throughout the course of her 11-year relationship with Combs. Jurors watched this hotel surveillance video from 2016 showing Combs dragging and kicking Ventura several times throughout the course of the trial. Ventura's attorney read *** statement from her after she testified, I hope that my testimony has given strength. And *** voice to other survivors and can help others who have suffered to speak up. Combs's defense team never denied allegations of domestic abuse but instead argued the two women participated willingly in the sexual encounters. Jurors heard from Combs's former personal assistants, *** male sex worker, and other former employees. The defense rested its case after less than 30 minutes, only reading text messages into the record. Combs did not testify. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries *** possible maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison. At this point we don't know if Holmes is going to be released from custody today while he awaits that sentencing. That's something the judge will rule on later this afternoon in lower Manhattan. I'm Lee Waldman reporting.

Updated: 3:35 PM CDT Jul 2, 2025

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What is the Mann Act? Here's what to know about the law used to convict Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Updated: 3:35 PM CDT Jul 2, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Sean "Diddy" Combs was convicted Wednesday of prostitution-related offenses under the federal Mann Act, an anti-sex trafficking law with a controversial, century-old history.Though he was acquitted of more serious charges, Combs was still convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters in felony violation of the federal law.Over the years, the law has been applied to prominent convictions, including R&B superstar R. Kelly, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, musician Chuck Berry and more than a century ago, boxer Jack Johnson. Its broad wording and a subsequent Supreme Court interpretation allowed prosecutors to bring cases against interracial couples, and eventually many others in consensual relationships, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.Here's what to know about the law.Why is it called the Mann Act?In 1910, Congress passed the bill, which was named after Republican U.S. Rep. James Robert Mann of Illinois.It's also known as the "White-Slave Traffic Act" of 1910.What's the history behind it?The 1910 law originally prohibited the interstate or foreign commerce transport of "any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose." It followed a 1907 congressionally appointed commission to look into the issue of immigrant sex workers, with the view that a girl would only enter prostitution if drugged or held captive, according to Cornell's Legal Information Institute.The law was used to secure a conviction against Jack Johnson, who became the first Black boxer to become a world heavyweight champion in 1910. Johnson was convicted in 1913 by an all-white jury for traveling with his white girlfriend, who worked as a sex worker, in violation of the Mann Act.(President Donald Trump posthumously pardoned Johnson in 2018, saying Johnson had served 10 months in prison "for what many view as a racially-motivated injustice.")How has the law changed since 1910?In a 1917 Supreme Court case, the justices ruled that "illicit fornication," even when consensual, amounted to an "immoral purpose," according to Cornell's Legal Information Institute.A 1986 update made the law gender-neutral and effectively ended the Act's role in trying to legislate morality by changing "debauchery" and "immoral purpose" to "any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense."How does it apply to Combs' case?In February, Combs' legal team made a motion to dismiss a Mann Act charge, writing that the law "has a long and troubling history as a statute with racist origins, used to target Black men and supposedly protect white women from them."The motion says Combs is being singled out because he is a powerful Black man, saying "he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished."He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.

Sean "Diddy" Combs was convicted Wednesday of prostitution-related offenses under the federal Mann Act, an anti-sex trafficking law with a controversial, century-old history.

Though he was acquitted of more serious charges, Combs was still convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters in felony violation of the federal law.

Over the years, the law has been applied to prominent convictions, including R&B superstar R. Kelly, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, musician Chuck Berry and more than a century ago, boxer Jack Johnson. Its broad wording and a subsequent Supreme Court interpretation allowed prosecutors to bring cases against interracial couples, and eventually many others in consensual relationships, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.

Here's what to know about the law.

Why is it called the Mann Act?

In 1910, Congress passed the bill, which was named after Republican U.S. Rep. James Robert Mann of Illinois.

It's also known as the "White-Slave Traffic Act" of 1910.

What's the history behind it?

The 1910 law originally prohibited the interstate or foreign commerce transport of "any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose." It followed a 1907 congressionally appointed commission to look into the issue of immigrant sex workers, with the view that a girl would only enter prostitution if drugged or held captive, according to Cornell's Legal Information Institute.

The law was used to secure a conviction against Jack Johnson, who became the first Black boxer to become a world heavyweight champion in 1910. Johnson was convicted in 1913 by an all-white jury for traveling with his white girlfriend, who worked as a sex worker, in violation of the Mann Act.

(President Donald Trump posthumously pardoned Johnson in 2018, saying Johnson had served 10 months in prison "for what many view as a racially-motivated injustice.")

How has the law changed since 1910?

In a 1917 Supreme Court case, the justices ruled that "illicit fornication," even when consensual, amounted to an "immoral purpose," according to Cornell's Legal Information Institute.

A 1986 update made the law gender-neutral and effectively ended the Act's role in trying to legislate morality by changing "debauchery" and "immoral purpose" to "any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense."

How does it apply to Combs' case?

In February, Combs' legal team made a motion to dismiss a Mann Act charge, writing that the law "has a long and troubling history as a statute with racist origins, used to target Black men and supposedly protect white women from them."

The motion says Combs is being singled out because he is a powerful Black man, saying "he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished."

He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.

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