Sean “Diddy” Combs will soon have to face the music in his federal sex-crimes case.
The embattled hip-hop mogul, who was convicted in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, is expected to receive a verdict for his prison sentence on Friday, Oct. 3. Combs has been held in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his September 2024 arrest, despite repeated attempts at bail.
Following a two-month trial in Manhattan court that unearthed the rapper’s decadeslong history of alleged abuse, a 12-person jury found Combs guilty of the minor prostitution counts but acquitted the 55-year-old of the racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Combs maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the five counts brought against him.
Combs’ case was particularly challenging, wading into the murky intersections of consent and coercion, celebrity, complex workplace dynamics and the myriad ways that people cope with trauma. The trial was among the most noteworthy of the #MeToo era, following explosive cases against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, R&B singer R. Kelly and A-list actors Kevin Spacey and Johnny Depp.
Here’s what to know about Combs’ possible prison sentence.
How much time could Diddy serve in prison?
The maximum sentence for a transportation to engage in prostitution charge is 10 years in prison, meaning Combs faces up to 20 years on the two counts. If he had been convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs could have been given life in prison.
Following a review of federal sentencing guidelines, prosecutors at one point said Combs could face 51 months to 63 months in prison, while the defense argued that the same guidelines instead suggested a two-year sentence.
As Combs’ sentencing approached, attorneys for the rapper recommended that Subramanian hand down 14 months of prison time. Meanwhile, the prosecution is seeking at least an 11-year sentence for Combs.
Diddy denied conviction overturn, new trial ahead of sentencing
Combs and his team were dealt a legal blow days ahead of the rapper’s sentencing hearing.
Combs’ lawyers had previously filed a motion asking Subramanian to either overturn his criminal conviction on the transportation to engage in prostitution charges, or alternatively, grant him a new trial. The court denied both motions in an opinion filed Tuesday, Sept. 30, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
Subramanian rejected the defense’s attempt to narrow the definition of “prostitution” for which Combs was convicted, as well as their argument that prosecutors did not present sufficient evidence to prove Combs was transporting people specifically for the purpose of paying for sex.
The judge called the prosecution’s evidence, including testimony that escorts were “paid thousands of dollars … to have sex” with Combs’ former girlfriends Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine and a woman identified as “Jane,” “overwhelming.”
Regarding Combs’ request for a new trial, his attorneys claimed the evidence presented in court for the remaining non-convicted charges carried over and prejudiced the jury against the music mogul. Subramanian also rejected that argument, stating Combs “fails to carry his ‘heavy burden’ of showing spillover prejudice.”
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Patrick Ryan, Anna Kaufman, Josh Meyer, Aysha Bagchi and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usatoday.com ’
