NEW YORK – Prosecutors have urged a judge to deny the renewed bail request for hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, asserting that there has been no change in circumstances since his recent conviction on charges related to prostitution that would justify reconsideration.
They also highlighted that their initial assessment, which suggested that federal sentencing guidelines would recommend a prison sentence of four to five years for his upcoming Oct. 3 sentencing, was considerably underestimated.
The government submitted this information to a Manhattan federal court judge late Thursday following a renewed $50 million bail request made by Combs’ defense lawyer earlier in the week. The defense argued that as the founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs deserves to remain free while awaiting sentencing in October.
Combs, aged 55, was acquitted of charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, which could have led to a life sentence. However, he was convicted on two counts of arranging transportation for prostitution, for organizing transport for both girlfriends and male sex workers for filmed sexual encounters.
On the day of the verdict, prosecutors won a bail fight after defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo argued that Combs should be freed immediately on bail.
Judge Arun Subramanian had previously denied bail, stating that Combs failed to prove, with clear and convincing evidence, that he posed no danger to any person or the community. However, he allowed for the request to be renewed.
In the renewed request on Tuesday, defense attorney Agnifilo pointed to other cases with similar convictions where bail was granted. He also mentioned the harsh conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Combs has been detained since his arrest in September at a New York hotel.
Prosecutors, though, said conditions at the federal lockup had improved considerably before Combs was arrested. A federal judge in January 2024 had blasted conditions at the jail, including its extensive lockdowns and inadequate medical care.
Prosecutors said cases cited by Agnifilo in which other defendants received bail were not comparable to the crimes Combs was convicted of carrying out.
“The defendant’s detention pending sentencing is mandatory, there are no exceptional circumstances justifying his release, and even if there were, the defendant cannot demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he is not a danger the community,” prosecutors wrote.
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