Replies

He was found guilty of taking women over state lines for the purpose of prostitution, but wasn't actually charged with conducting or promoting prostitution. N.Y. Penal Law Section 230.15 – Promoting prostitution is the specific law applying to that.

I would think the first point would be the one that could have been applied to Combs:

"The following definitions are applicable to this article:

1. “Advance prostitution.” A person “advances prostitution” when, acting other than as a person in prostitution or as a patron thereof, he or she knowingly causes or aids a person to commit or engage in prostitution, procures or solicits patrons for prostitution, provides persons or premises for prostitution purposes, operates or assists in the operation of a house of prostitution or a prostitution enterprise, or engages in any other conduct designed to institute, aid or facilitate an act or enterprise of prostitution.

2. “Profit from prostitution.” A person “profits from prostitution” when, acting other than as a person in prostitution receiving compensation for personally rendered prostitution services, he or she accepts or receives money or other property pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person whereby he or she participates or is to participate in the proceeds of prostitution activity.

I have no idea if Combs received anything in return for offering his girlfriends up for prostitution..

N.Y. Penal Law Section 230.15 – Promoting prostitution is the specific law applying to that.

I’m not being facetious, I’m genuinely asking in case I’m misunderstanding/missing something: what do NY state penal code and its definition of prostitution have to do with this? It was a federal trial.

Something of note, or so I’m seeing speculation on: one of the charges of transportation across state lines for prostitution he was convicted of under the Mann act dates to 2018, but the Mann act has a statute of limitations of 5 years. It sounds like maybe they were able to try him on it because it could’ve been part of the ongoing RICO aspect of the case, but with acquittal on those charges, the 2018 count might get tossed as untimely. (The other one he was convicted on is from 2021-2024, and so is not hindered by the 5 year limit).