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US entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will be sentenced on October 3 after his conviction on charges related to prostitution, following a mixed verdict that resulted in his acquittal on more severe allegations.
The music executive was found not guilty on broad racketeering and sex trafficking charges after a lengthy trial in which he faced serious abuse claims. However, the jury convicted him on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which could carry a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
It seems unlikely that the judge will enforce the maximum sentence.
Prosecutors stated in court documents that, according to federal sentencing guidelines, a possible range of 51 to 63 months of imprisonment might be suitable; however, they could also request a harsher penalty.
His defence team, interpreting federal sentencing guidelines as well, has indicated they will suggest a lighter sentence of 21 to 27 months.
Combs, aged 55, has been held since September 2024 in a notorious prison in Brooklyn, and all the time he has already served will count toward his final sentence.
The jury reached its verdict on July 2 after just 13 hours of deliberation that followed eight weeks of intense testimony and arguments.
During the two months of proceedings, prosecutors alleged that Combs ran a criminal organisation for decades, directing dedicated employees and bodyguards to carry out various offences at his command.
Yet, Combs was acquitted of the racketeering accusations and two counts related to sex trafficking women with whom he had long-term relationships.
This acquittal led his delighted defence team to suggest that the producer and entrepreneur should be released on bail, but Judge Arun Subramanian denied the request. Subramanian referred to Combs’s acknowledged history of domestic violence in his decision—a defence that was crucial for the artist’s acquittal on significant charges, yet came at a cost.
Still, the charges on which Combs was convicted are considerably less severe than racketeering and sex trafficking, as a conviction on those could have resulted in a life sentence.
In determining the sentence, the judge will consider arguments from both parties.
The prosecution will seek a longer sentence based on Combs’s recorded history of violence and drug use, along with the fact that he committed the offences for which he was convicted while he knew federal agents were investigating him.
Combs’s defence has contended that he warrants a lighter sentence since he utilised prostitution services rather than profiting from hired sex.
