Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail after guilty verdict in federal sex trafficking case
A federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain in custody pending sentencing, following a landmark verdict that found the music mogul guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The high-profile trial concluded with a split decision, but the outcome ensures Combs will stay behind bars until at least his October 3 sentencing date.
Sean “Diddy” Combs denied bail after guilty verdict in sex trafficking case; judge cites violent history ahead of Oct. 3 sentencing.
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Presiding Judge Arun Subramanian made the ruling after considering arguments from both the defense and prosecution. The defense urged Combs' immediate release, citing the dismissal of the most serious racketeering charges. Federal prosecutors, however, warned the court that the defendant poses a clear flight risk and continues to pose a threat to victims and potential witnesses.
Citing evidence presented during the weeks-long trial, Judge Subramanian emphasized Combs' documented history of violent behavior, particularly toward women. Video footage repeatedly shown in court—including surveillance clips of Combs attacking ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura—reinforced the prosecution's narrative of a decades-long pattern of abuse. Jurors also heard detailed testimony from a woman identified as “Jane,” who described a brutal 2024 assault at the hands of Combs while he was already under federal indictment.
The trial, held in a lower Manhattan courtroom, drew national attention for its explosive claims and graphic evidence involving one of the most powerful figures in hip-hop. Combs, who has spent nearly a year in Brooklyn’s federal detention center, will now await his sentencing as the court prepares to weigh competing recommendations from prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Federal prosecutors are pushing for a sentence between 51 and 63 months, arguing that Combs’ repeated acts of violence and attempts to obstruct justice warrant a harsh penalty. The defense, by contrast, is seeking a more lenient term of 21 to 27 months, stressing Combs’ compliance with court proceedings and his year already served in detention.
Combs will receive credit for time served, though the final sentence could still see him incarcerated for several more years. All parties are due back in court October 3, though the date may be moved up if the defense requests expedited sentencing procedures.
