Judge rejects Sean 'Diddy' Combs' bid to toss prostitution convictions
Share this @internewscast.com

The judge overseeing Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal proceedings did not grant the hip-hop star’s plea to dismiss his convictions related to prostitution on Tuesday, paving the way for his upcoming sentencing.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who presided over Combs’ eight-week federal trial in New York this summer, denied Combs’ request to discard his convictions on two charges of transporting individuals for prostitution purposes, with each charge potentially leading to a 10-year prison term.

Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.

Federal prosecutors claimed that Combs orchestrated a decade-long “criminal enterprise,” compelling women to partake in prolonged, drug-induced sexual activities with male escorts, dubbed “freak-offs.”

Combs maintained his innocence by pleading not guilty to all five charges central to the trial, refuting the claims against him while being detained for over a year in a Brooklyn jail.

The jury cleared Combs of one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, averting a possible life sentence.

Ultimately, he was convicted under the Mann Act, a federal statute from 1910 that criminalizes the interstate transport of individuals for “immoral purposes.”

Combs’ lawyers argued at a hearing Thursday that the Mann Act didn’t apply to their client in part because he wasn’t running a “commercial business.”

They also insisted that the prosecution’s key witnesses — including ex-girlfriends Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a woman identified by the pseudonym “Jane” — willingly participated in the “freak-offs.”

“We are talking about adults having a threesome, bringing another adult into their private sex life,” Alexandra Shapiro, one of Combs’ defense lawyers, told Subramanian.

The prosecution tried to rebuff that narrative, telling Subramanian that the government has an “important and substantial” interest in cracking down on exactly the kind of interstate prostitution Combs was accused of orchestrating for his sexual encounters.

“The government proved the defendant transported Cassie and ‘Jane’ domestically and internationally so they could participate in prostitution,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said. “The ‘freak-offs’ were about one thing: his sexual gratification, his personal pleasure.”

Subramanian previously denied Combs’ efforts to be released on bail, saying in part that he “fails to satisfy his burden to demonstrate an entitlement to release.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Dramatic Taser Deployment Ends Standoff with Armed Theft Suspect

DISCLAIMER: All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court…

Effingham County’s Remarkable Journey: Fourth Consecutive State Quarterfinals Appearance

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — The Effingham County Lady Rebels have secured their place…

Escaped Inmate Recaptured After Daring Leap from Jail Transport Van

A man described as a serious violent felon is once again in…

United Way Appoints Dynamic New Leader to Propel Growth in Liberty and Long County

A tide of transformation is sweeping through Liberty and Long Counties as…

Texas Secretary of State Sparks Debate with Viral Post on Voter Fraud Allegations

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has reignited discussions about election integrity…

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Snub Finalized: NFL Confirms No Reconsideration

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL remains steadfast in its decision to…

Urgent Search: Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Missing Person Melodee Buzzard

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has issued a critical update regarding…

Multiple Departments Respond to Grain Bin Fire at Coles Station

MOULTRIE COUNTY, Ill. – An assortment of emergency response teams is actively…

Arizona Takes Legal Action Against US House: Grijalva’s Swearing-In Delayed

On Tuesday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, initiated legal action…

Jefferson County Paramedic Faces Charges for Alleged Minor Exploitation

A paramedic from Jefferson County has been suspended following his arrest on…

Chicago Mayor Unveils Innovative Tax Proposal Targeting Social Media Companies

CHICAGO (WGN) In an effort to address the city’s significant $1.2 billion…

Israel Confirms Identities of Additional Hostage Victims Amid Vance’s Diplomatic Mission to Meet Netanyahu

TEL AVIV – In a solemn update, Israeli authorities have confirmed the…