Cassie Ventura “paved the way” for a Manhattan jury to find Sean “Diddy” Combs guilty of prostitution charges Wednesday — despite the disgraced music mogul being acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have landed him behind bars for life.

“This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,” her attorney, Doug Wigdor, said in a statement just moments after the verdict was delivered.

“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice.”

Ventura was among two of the music mogul’s former girlfriends who gave grueling testimony during the two-month trial that he physically and sexually abused them.

The trial focused, in part, on allegations that Combs used his business empire to force Ventura and his other ex — who was only identified in court under the pseudonym Jane — to take part in drug-fueled “Freak Offs” with male sex workers as he watched on.

“We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial,” Wigdor said in the wake of the verdict.

“She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors.”

Women’s rights attorney Dr. Ann Olivarius told The Post that the verdict put the limitations of the criminal justice system front and center.

“That Combs’ lawyers could frame this as a ‘great modern love story’ and be rewarded for it speaks volumes,” Olivarius said of Diddy and Ventura’s past relationship. 

“We’re now told that a love story can include brutal beatings, sexual humiliation, blackmail, stalking, and that the woman should feel lucky to be part of it.”

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The attorney added that the verdict “is a painful reminder” of why so many survivors pursue justice through civil lawsuits, of which Combs is now facing more than 60.

“After seven grueling days of testimony, the criminal justice system failed to deliver real accountability,” Olivarius said. 

Instead, it turned survivors’ trauma into a public spectacle, re-traumatizing them in a system that too often protects power over truth.”

Throughout the bombshell trial, prosecutors called on Ventura and a slew of other witnesses as they painted Combs as the kingpin of a crew that plotted a slew of crimes over two decades — including setting Kid Cudi’s Porsche on fire and breaking into his home in a jealous rage over the rapper’s relationship with Ventura.

The jury was also repeatedly shown infamous surveillance video of Combs shoving, kicking and dragging Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.

They also heard evidence that he bribed security guards with $100,000 in a failed bid to bury the footage.

The Bad Boy Records founder was ultimately found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for Ventura and Jane.

He was acquitted on two sex-trafficking charges and one racketeering charge.

The acquittals on the sex trafficking counts mean he will avoid a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. He could have faced life in prison if he were convicted on sex trafficking or racketeering conspiracy.

Combs now faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence on each of the two prostitution counts.