Sean "Diddy" Combs is set to be his sentence on Friday by a US district judge in New York City, after his guilty verdict earlier this year on charges related to prostitution.
Here is a recap of his legal proceedings: the charges he faced, what happened at trial, and potential next steps.
What Was He Found Guilty Of?
In July, after an eight-week trial, a panel of jurors found Combs guilty of two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was found not guilty of the more severe allegations against him, racketeering and human trafficking, which carried the possibility of a life imprisonment.
The charges on which he was found guilty each have a maximum penalty of 10 years. Combs had entered a not guilty plea to every count.
Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversaw the trial, will hand down the ruling on the scheduled day, with the court session set to start at 10am ET in federal district court in lower Manhattan.
Combs, 55, has been detained without bond at the Brooklyn metropolitan detention center since his apprehension in September last year. Since the verdict, the court has denied two bail requests from Combs’s lawyers, and recently Subramanian also rejected a motion to set aside the guilty verdicts.
What Allegations Was Combs Accused Of?
Government attorneys alleged the Bad Boy Records founder of leveraging his status and resources, and using violence, threats and blackmail, to force former partners into participating in drug-fueled sexual marathons with paid companions. Such events were often referred to by the defendant as “freak-offs”, which prosecutors claimed Combs orchestrated, observed, pleasured himself to and sometimes filmed.
The prosecution asserted that for over twenty years, Combs ran a illegal operation – assisted by staff and allies – to carry out and hide crimes including sex trafficking, drug dealing, corruption and kidnapping.
Despite being convicted on two counts, Combs has denied any misconduct. His attorneys have insisted that all sexual activity was consensual and that no illicit organization existed.
What Transpired During the Trial?
The government's case presented over thirty witnesses, including two of Combs’s former girlfriends – singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a second individual who gave evidence under the pseudonym of “Jane” – who recounted the alleged events in graphic detail, and alleged that Combs pressured and intimidated them into taking part.
Ventura was the key witness for the prosecution. She stated that during her 11-year, on-off relationship with Combs, he exposed her to various forms of mistreatment and to extortion. The jury was presented with the 2016 hotel surveillance footage of Combs attacking Ventura in a hallway. Jane also testified of a violent altercation with Combs.
Other witnesses included former employees, escorts, police officers, hotel employees and celebrities including rapper Kid Cudi and singer Dawn Richard. Combs did not testify.
Combs’s legal team admitted previous incidents of domestic violence, but disputed that any coercion or trafficking took place. They argued that every sexual act was consensual and part of a “alternative lifestyle”, and argued that Ventura and Jane were willing participants in the encounters.
What Sentence Might He Face?
Combs’s lawyers have asked the judge for a sentence of a maximum of 14 months in jail, which, considering time served, would permit his freedom by year's end. They claim that Combs has already been “sufficiently penalized” by spending over a year in the “harsh environment” at the facility.
Federal prosecutors, however, have sought at least 135 months (over a decade) and a $500,000 fine. In court filings, they portrayed Combs as “showing no remorse” and said that “his background and behavior” show years of abuse and violence.
What Statements Were Made By the Victims?
The government filed multiple statements from victims to the judge before sentencing, including one from Ventura.
“Although the jurors did not seem to understand or believe that I participated in freak-offs because of the pressure and intimidation the accused used against me, I know that is the reality, and his punishment should account for the truth of the evidence and my personal experience as a survivor,” Ventura stated.
“I am so fearful that if he walks free, his initial steps will be swift retribution towards me and other individuals who testified about his misconduct, at court,” she said.
“If there is one thing I have learned from this ordeal, it is that those affected will never be secure,” she added. “I hope that your ruling considers the facts at hand that the panel failed to see.”
What Happens Next?
After sentencing, Combs’s legal team could appeal against the decision. Combs’s defense is also likely to appeal his conviction.
Additionally, Combs faces dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of misconduct and further offenses. He has denied all allegations in those proceedings.
