Judge sets October sentencing date for music mogul after mixed verdict in federal trial
Sean “Diddy” Combs will be sentenced on 3 October after being convicted in a federal case involving the transportation of prostitutes for drug-fuelled sexual performances.
The sentencing date was set by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian during a hearing in Manhattan on Tuesday, following a request from Combs’ defence lawyer, Marc Agnifilo. Prosecutors and probation officers agreed to the proposed date.
Combs, 55, remains in custody at the Brooklyn detention facility where he has been held since his arrest last September. The hip-hop mogul was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but cleared of the most serious allegations he faced.
Embed from Getty ImagesA mixed verdict delivered on 2 July saw jurors acquit him of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, offences that could have resulted in a life sentence if he had been convicted. The outcome was regarded as a setback for the prosecution, while Combs and his supporters welcomed the decision.
Prosecution’s case
Federal prosecutors accused Combs of pressuring two former girlfriends — Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a woman testifying under the pseudonym Jane — into having unwanted sex with male sex workers. They alleged the incidents were facilitated by Combs’ employees and took place in an environment fuelled by drugs and alcohol.
A third witness, identified in court only as “Mia”, testified that Combs sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions while she was employed by him.
Combs denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all five counts in the indictment.
Sentencing guidelines dispute
Prosecutors have indicated that, under federal sentencing guidelines, Combs could face between 51 and 63 months in prison. The defence, however, maintains that the same guidelines point towards a two-year sentence.
Judge Subramanian is not bound to follow the guidelines and could impose a different sentence after considering arguments from both sides. Defence lawyers have until 19 September to submit their sentencing recommendation, while prosecutors are expected to respond a week later.
The defence team has until 30 July to request that the judge set aside the conviction entirely, a legal manoeuvre that could overturn the verdict.
Career and legacy
Combs is the founder of Bad Boy Records, the label credited with helping to shape modern hip-hop and launching the careers of artists including The Notorious B.I.G. and Usher. His influence in the music industry has been widely acknowledged, both as a producer and as an entrepreneur.
However, his legal troubles have cast a shadow over his legacy. Alongside the federal criminal case, Combs faces dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of abuse. He has denied all such allegations.
The criminal conviction marks a dramatic turn for one of the most recognisable figures in American entertainment, whose public persona for decades combined business acumen with celebrity glamour.
What happens next
The October sentencing will determine whether Combs serves several years in prison or a significantly shorter term. Regardless of the sentence, his legal battles are far from over, with the pending civil cases still to be resolved.
For now, Combs remains in detention as his legal team works to reduce the potential penalty or overturn the conviction. Prosecutors, meanwhile, are expected to push for a sentence at the higher end of the guideline range.
Judge Subramanian will weigh the evidence, the nature of the offences, and the arguments from both sides before announcing his decision.
