NEW YORK (BN24) — A federal judge denied bond Wednesday for Sean “Diddy” Combs as the music mogul awaits sentencing on prostitution-related offenses that could end his decades-long career in entertainment and send him to prison for years.
The decision to keep Combs behind bars followed a mixed verdict delivered after three days of deliberations. Jurors acquitted Combs, 55, of the most serious counts of sex trafficking and racketeering, charges that carried the possibility of life imprisonment and would have marked one of the most significant criminal convictions in the history of hip-hop.
Combs, who has been in custody since his arrest last fall, remained stoic as the judge ruled against his release. His attorneys had argued he should be allowed to await sentencing at home, noting he has already spent months in detention and posed no flight risk.
Prosecutors countered that Combs was convicted of crimes of violence and continued to represent a potential danger to the community. They urged the judge to deny bail, citing what they described as his history of coercive behavior and the risk he might intimidate witnesses.
Although Combs faces up to 10 years in prison under the law, sentencing guidelines are expected to recommend significantly less time. Defense attorneys said in court filings that he could be sentenced to as little as 21 months, with credit for time served. Prosecutors have indicated they may ask for more than five years but acknowledged they had not yet completed a full evaluation of the conviction.
The sentence will ultimately be determined by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at a later hearing. No date has been set.
The conviction caps a dramatic fall for Combs, who built a sprawling brand as a music executive, fashion entrepreneur and reality TV figure. The prostitution charges stemmed from what prosecutors described as years of coercive sexual arrangements with women hired to participate in “freak-off” events.
Combs’ attorneys maintain he was unfairly singled out because of his wealth and fame.
