After being found guilty of prostitution-related offences – but cleared of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy – hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs faces up to 20 years in prison, but is not expected to receive the maximum punishment.
Following his high-profile trial, the hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution by jurors in Manhattan, New York, last week – but was cleared of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Defence lawyers argued Combs, who has been in prison in Brooklyn since his arrest in September last year, should be bailed ahead of sentencing given the not guilty verdicts for the more serious charges, but Judge Arun Subramanian denied this, citing, among other things, the rapper’s admissions of previous violent behaviour.
The charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy carried a potential life sentence. Combs still faces up to 20 years in prison for the prostitution-related offences, but is not expected to receive the maximum punishment. After the verdict was delivered, the judge scheduled the sentencing hearing for 3 October. At a remote follow-up conference on Tuesday, with agreement from the defence and prosecution, the judge approved the date.
Combs joined the call but did not make any comment. Any sentence will include credit for time already served, which will be just over a year by the time the hearing takes place. During his trial, Combs was accused by prosecutors of abusing and coercing three alleged victims, including his former long-term partner, singer and model Cassie Ventura. Jurors found the allegations did not amount to sex-trafficking or racketeering, or running a criminal enterprise, but they did find him guilty of transporting Cassie and another former girlfriend, “Jane”, for prostitution offences around the US, and paying male escorts to engage in sexual encounters.
Despite the guilty verdict on those charges, the 55-year-old’s team described it as “the victory of all victories”.
