Judge says Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs must stay in jail until he is sentenced
Share this @internewscast.com

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has denied Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request to wait for his sentencing at home. His appeal for bail was turned down on Monday due to his conviction related to prostitution.

Combs has been in jail since his arrest in September. He was charged with federal offenses for allegedly coercing girlfriends into participating in drug-laden sexual encounters with male sex workers, while he observed and recorded the events.

Last month, he was found not guilty of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking but was convicted on two counts related to prostitution.

Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Combs’ $50 million bond request, stating that Combs had failed to demonstrate that he was neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community. He also hadn’t presented any “exceptional circumstance” that would permit his release following a conviction demanding detention typically.

The judge noted that Combs’ arguments might have been more persuasive in a different scenario that lacked evidence of violence, coercion, or domination connected to the prostitution acts in this case, but the present record showed evidence of all these elements.

Prosecutors declined to comment on the ruling. Messages seeking comment were sent to Combs’ lawyers.

The conviction could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years. However, federal sentencing guidelines are complex and can vary significantly from case to case, and there is considerable disagreement between prosecutors and Combs’ lawyers about how these guidelines should be applied to his situation.

The guidelines aren’t mandatory, and Subramanian will have wide latitude in deciding Combs’ punishment.

The Bad Boy Records founder, now 55, was for decades a protean figure in pop culture. A Grammy-winning hip hop artist and entrepreneur with a flair for finding and launching big talents, he presided over a business empire that ranged from fashion to reality TV.

Prosecutors claimed he used his fame, wealth and violence to force and manipulate two now-ex-girlfriends into days-long, drugged-up sexual performances he called “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”

During the trial, four women testified that Combs had beaten or sexually assaulted them. Jurors also watched video of Combs hurling one of his former girlfriends, R&B singer Cassie, to the floor, repeatedly kicking her and then and dragging her down a hotel hallway.

His lawyers argued that the government tried to criminalize consensual, if unconventional, sexual tastes that played out in complicated relationships. The defense acknowledged that Combs had violent outbursts but said nothing he did came amounted to the crimes with which he was charged.

Since the verdict, his lawyers have repeatedly renewed their efforts to get him out on bail until his sentencing, set for October. They have argued that the acquittals undercut the rationale for holding him, and they have pointed to other people who were released before sentencing on similar convictions.

Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested in a court filing that Combs was the United States’ “only person in jail for hiring adult male escorts for him and his girlfriend.”

Agnifilo also raised concerns about squalor and danger at the Metropolitan Detention Center, the notorious federal lockup where Combs is being held. The judge wrote Monday that those conditions were a “serious” consideration, but he said Combs hadn’t shown that unique circumstances –- such as advanced age or medical issues –- would warrant his release.

The defense’s most recent proposal included the $50 million bond, plus travel restrictions, and expressed openness to adding on house arrest at his Miami home, electronic monitoring, private security guards and other requirements.

Prosecutors opposed releasing Combs. They wrote that his “extensive history of violence — and his continued attempt to minimize his recent violent conduct — demonstrates his dangerousness.”

___

Associated Press writer Jake Offenhartz contributed from Los Angeles.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
FBI investigating Michigan church shooting as 'targeted' violence; some worshippers unaccounted for

FBI Probes Michigan Church Shooting as ‘Deliberate’ Attack; Several Attendees Missing

The FBI is looking into the Michigan church shooting and fire as…
Three activists indicted for doxing ICE agent in Los Angeles

Three Activists Charged for Sharing Personal Information of ICE Agent in LA

The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy and one…
James Comey's well-deserved indictment: Letters

James Comey Faces Indictment: A Look at the Details

The Issue: The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey for lying…
Netanyahu and Trump are set to meet as pressure mounts to end war in Gaza

As pressure to cease the Gaza conflict intensifies, Netanyahu and Trump prepare to meet

Just days following his assertive address at the United Nations, where he…
Epstein Secretly Brokered Israel-Mongolia Deal

Epstein Covertly Facilitated Agreement Between Israel and Mongolia

Epstein planned Ehud Barak’s meeting with the Secretary of the National Security…
Plainfield murder-suicide: Ryan Heit shoots, kills wife, Jennifer, before taking own life on Burshire Court, Joliet police say

Tragic Incident in Plainfield: Ryan Heit Allegedly Kills Wife Jennifer Before Taking His Own Life, According to Joliet Police

PLAINFIELD, Ill. (WLS) — According to Joliet police, a tragic incident occurred…
Teen shootout sends blue city residents running for cover as youth gangs surge ahead of mayoral race: expert

Youth Violence Escalates: Residents Concerned About Gang Activity as Mayoral Race Approaches, Expert Says

New York City has observed a concerning increase in juvenile crime following…
Teen runaway was likely dead for ‘several weeks’ before her remains were found in D4vd’s Tesla: cops

Teenager Who Ran Away Found Dead in D4vd’s Tesla Weeks After Disappearance: Police

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenager who had run away, was discovered deceased…
Tropical Storm Imelda, Huricane Humberto deliver double threat, brining dangerous surf and flooding for US

Tropical Storm Imelda and Hurricane Humberto Pose Twin Threats with Dangerous Surf and Flooding in the US

Tropical Storm Imelda is predicted to gain strength and develop into a…
ICE in Chicago protest: Neurodivergent man among 4 charged after clash at Broadview ICE facility, supporters say

Chicago ICE Protest: Supporters Report Neurodivergent Man and 3 Others Charged Following Broadview Facility Incident

CHICAGO (WLS) — Four individuals appeared in court on Monday following a…
Man arrested after shooting woman at hotel

Suspect detained following hotel shooting incident involving woman

Police say Winthrop Deforest is charged with attempted murder in the second…
China won't let Trump take Bagram Air Base back from the Taliban without a fight, expert warns

Expert Predicts: China Unlikely to Allow Trump to Reclaim Bagram Air Base from Taliban Without Challenge

President Donald Trump made the shocking announcement this month that the U.S.…