The Acquittal Artists: How Diddy's Legal Team Turned a Legal Disaster Into a Near-Miracle

When the jury returned its verdict on July 2, 2025, acquitting Sean “Diddy” Combs of racketeering and sex trafficking charges and convicting him only on two lesser Mann Act violations, it wasn’t just a legal surprise—it was a case study in elite defense strategy. The outcome left federal prosecutors stunned and the public wondering: who are the attorneys that pulled off one of the biggest courtroom saves in recent memory?

Call them what you want—fixers, professionals, or anti-heroes in suits—but “The Acquittal Artists” is a fitting title for this trio who nearly ran the table.

Marc Agnifilo – The Courtroom Maestro
As lead counsel, Agnifilo commanded the defense like a conductor with a symphony. His four-hour closing argument framed Combs’s chaotic personal life as complex but consensual, not criminal. A former federal prosecutor turned elite defense attorney, Agnifilo has handled everything from mob cases to securities fraud, and his ability to simplify sprawling indictments is unmatched. His reputation for controlling the courtroom was on full display—and it paid off.
Profile: https://agilawgroup.com/lawyers/marc-agnifilo

Teny Geragos – The Cross-Examination Specialist
Geragos, a founding partner at Agnifilo Intrater LLP, proved a relentless force in cross-examination. With a calm but cutting presence, she destabilized government witnesses and helped unravel the prosecution’s narrative thread by thread. While her last name is well known in legal circles, her performance in the Combs trial confirmed that her reputation stands on its own merit.
Profile: https://agilawgroup.com/lawyers/teny-geragos

Brian Steel – The RICO Technician
Steel, brought onto the team in April 2025, is best known for dismantling complex racketeering cases—most notably in his recent defense of rapper Young Thug. His role was clear: take the government’s sweeping RICO theory and grind it into ambiguity. That’s exactly what he did. Quiet, methodical, and relentlessly thorough, Steel helped ensure the jury never saw a cohesive criminal enterprise in the prosecution’s case.
Profile: https://www.thesteellawfirm.com/about.html

The Outcome
Combs was acquitted on the headline-grabbing charges: racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. The jury convicted him on two counts of interstate transportation for prostitution under the Mann Act—serious, but significantly less severe. He now faces a possible sentence of 51–63 months, with sentencing set for October 3, 2025. He remains in custody without bail.

Conclusion
O.J. Simpson had the Dream Team. Sean Combs had the Acquittal Artists. They didn’t walk their client out of the courthouse free—but they turned a potential decades-long sentence into a far more manageable outcome. Not heroes, but undeniably elite. When the stakes are high and the case is a mess, they’re the ones you call.