Michael Madsen, “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” star, dies at 67
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Michael Madsen, “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” star, dies at 67

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Madsen, whose menacing characters in “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” made him a standout in Quentin Tarantino’s films, has died. He was 66.  Madsen was found unresponsive in his home in Malibu, California, on Thursday morning and pronounced dead, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Watch Commander Christopher Jauregui said. He…

MANN ACT: Examining the law used to convict Sean “Diddy” Combs
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MANN ACT: Examining the law used to convict Sean “Diddy” Combs

NEW YORK (AP) – Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted Wednesday of prostitution-related offenses under the federal Mann Act, an anti-sex trafficking law with a 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 paid sexual encounters. Over the years,…

ODDIO! American filmmaker accused of murder at center of Italian film industry scandal
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ODDIO! American filmmaker accused of murder at center of Italian film industry scandal

ROME (AP) — The head of the Italian Culture Ministry’s film department resigned Thursday following revelations that an American film director accused in a double homicide had secured nearly $1 million in tax credits from the ministry for a film he never made. The Culture Ministry announced the resignation of Nicola Borrelli in a brief statement overnight,…

WHAT’S NEXT: Could lesser conviction mean a greater public rehabilitation for Diddy?
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WHAT’S NEXT: Could lesser conviction mean a greater public rehabilitation for Diddy?

For nearly two years, a nearly nonstop parade of allegations and revelations has ravaged and unraveled Sean “Diddy” Combs’ carefully cultivated reputation as an affable celebrity entrepreneur, A-list party host, Grammy-winning artist and music executive, brand ambassador and reality TV star. It culminated in a verdict Wednesday that saw Combs acquitted of the most serious sex trafficking…

BAD FOR BUSINESS: Verdict’s impact on Diddy’s business empire
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BAD FOR BUSINESS: Verdict’s impact on Diddy’s business empire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has been acquitted of the most serious charges in his federal sex trafficking trial, but that doesn’t mean the once-celebrated music mogul will see his business empire restored. Combs, 55, who is one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history, was acquitted Wednesday of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking…

NO BAIL: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs denied bail after mixed verdict in sex crimes case
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NO BAIL: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs denied bail after mixed verdict in sex crimes case

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge declined Wednesday to grant bail to Sean “Diddy” Combs, meaning the hip hop mogul won’t go free while he awaits sentencing in his sex crimes case. The bond decision came after a jury convicted Combs of federal prostitution-related offenses but acquitted him of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Combs,…

A-LISTERS ON TRIAL: Diddy’s trial was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases
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A-LISTERS ON TRIAL: Diddy’s trial was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases

New York (AP) – A New York City jury’s decision Wednesday to convict Sean “Diddy” Combs on prostitution-related offenses and acquit the music mogul on sex trafficking and racketeering charges was the latest in a line of high-profile celebrity criminal cases that garnered widespread attention.O.J. Simpson In 1995, football star and actor O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder in…

BREAKING NEWS: Sean “Diddy” Combs acquitted of most serious charges, convicted of a prostitution-related offense
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BREAKING NEWS: Sean “Diddy” Combs acquitted of most serious charges, convicted of a prostitution-related offense

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offense but acquitted Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life. The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison for…

Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, disgraced by 1980s prostitution scandal, dies at 90
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Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, disgraced by 1980s prostitution scandal, dies at 90

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who became a household name amassing an enormous following and multimillion-dollar ministry only to be undone by his penchant for prostitutes, has died. Swaggart died decades after his once vast audience dwindled and his name became a punchline on late night television. His death was announced Tuesday…

DIDDY TRIAL: Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts; judge tells panel to keep deliberating
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DIDDY TRIAL: Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts; judge tells panel to keep deliberating

NEW YORK (AP) — The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial said Tuesday that it has reached a verdict on four of five counts against the hip-hop mogul. But the partial decision remained under wraps after jurors were told to keep deliberating because they were stuck on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors, Combs’ defense…