Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s sentencing will proceed as initially planned after his lawyers and federal prosecutors reached a new consensus on Tuesday.
The two parties, in a pre-hearing letter, stated they had settled on a timeline for the hip-hop star’s fate to be determined on September 22, moving it up 11 days earlier than the judge’s originally scheduled October 3 sentencing.
However, recent court documents show that the defense and prosecution decided to adhere to the original court schedule while also suggesting a plan for any post-verdict motions leading up to that date.
The hearing, which was conducted remotely on audio lasted only a few minutes.
Diddy’s voice could be heard on the phone line from the MDC, the federal detention facility where he is being held.
Sounding confident and relaxed, he greeted his lawyer – who referred to him as ‘Love’, the name Combs used for his most recent album – during the two minute hearing.
When asked if there was anything beyond the sentencing schedule the parties wanted to discuss, prosecutor Christy Slavik and defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said no.
The courtroom deputy informed them the judge would respond in writing before adjourning.
Diddy’s sentencing is set to move forward as planned after both federal prosecutors and his legal team agreed to the court’s original proposed date at a hearing on Tuesday
Diddy was cleared of the most serious offenses; sex trafficking and racketeering charges, but was convicted on two counts of prostitution-related charges
As part of the agreement, both parties asked for the Probation Office to send its pre-sentence report by August 29, with Combs’s attorneys to file objections by September 5, and the prosecution by September 12.
‘The Government and the Probation Office do not object to this schedule,’ the letter filed by Diddy’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo states.
Meanwhile, post-verdict motions are still on track, with the defense expected to file by July 30.
The move comes a week after the Bad Boy founder, 55, was acquitted of three major charges but found guilty of two lesser counts, and was ordered to remain in jail until sentencing.
With the original sentencing date still on the table, speculation remains on what penalties could await the disgraced music icon.
Prosecutors have said in court filings that the guideline sentence for Diddy, who does not have a prior criminal record, is around five years.
Last week Judge Arun Subramanian appeared to appeared to hint that he will side with prosecutors and apply the full weight of the law against the music mogul.
The judge denied Diddy’s request for a $1million bond following the verdict, arguing that, although he was acquitted of the most serious charges, the trial proved the rapper has ‘a propensity for violence’ and is a danger to society.
In a letter submitted by defense attorney Marc Agnifilo (pictured) both parties were floating the idea of an earlier sentencing date, but the latest court filings reveal the defense and prosecution have agreed to the October 3
Judge Arun Subramanian ordered Diddy to remain in custody while he awaits sentencing, arguing that his trial proved that he is a danger to his ex-girlfriends and accusers
He added that Diddy’s ‘violence was starkly depicted’ in the 2016 footage of the rapper assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway in Los Angeles.
‘You full-throatedly in your closing argument told the jury that there was violence here, and domestic violence is violence,’ Subramanian said as he denied Diddy’s bond. ‘You said this was a case that did have violence.’
Indeed, Diddy’s lawyers won the jury over by insisting that that Diddy was a domestic abuser, but not a sex-trafficker or the head of a criminal enterprise.
Now the judge might use that same admission to justify a long prison sentence for his two convictions for transportation to engage in prostitution.
Former federal prosecutor Jennifer Beidel told DailyMail.com the judge’s comments suggest he will side with prosecutors, who want Diddy to face four to five years – above the guidelines based on the sentences of other similarly situated defendants.
‘He is saying he thinks that Diddy poses a danger to society,’ Beidel said of Subramanian’s comments.
Diddy’s lawyers said that under federal sentencing guidelines, he would likely face about two years in prison.
They pleaded with the judge to let the mogul await his sentencing in his Miami mansion, but the judge denied his release.
Diddy was seen reacting dramatically after he was convicted of prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life
Diddy’s mother and children were seen leaving the courthouse with smiles after the verdict on July 2
Diddy has not been seen outside of the courtroom since September 16 2024, when he was arrested on suspicion of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution – which means he has now had nearly 10 months in custody.
A jury of eight men and four women last week acquitted him of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fueled sex marathons with men.
Diddy’s defense team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges.
Agnifilo asked that he be released on bond immediately to await sentencing, saying the acquittals changed the calculus about whether he needed to be held.
‘He’s not going to flee. He’s been given his life back,’ Agnifilo said.
