Last week, Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation for engaging in prostitution following an extensive eight-week trial. Each count carries a maximum penalty of ten years, although legal experts anticipate he will likely receive a lesser sentence.
Combs was acquitted of more severe charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Following the announcement of the verdict, Judge Arun Subramanian considered setting the sentencing hearing for October 3. However, Combs’ legal team sought to expedite the process, initially proposing September 22, before ultimately reverting to the October 3 date after discussions with the probation office indicated no objections to this schedule.
During a brief remote hearing, which lasted less than a minute, Combs and his attorneys learned that the judge would respond to their proposed dates at a later time. Since his arrest in September of last year, Combs has been held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn.
After the verdict, Combs’ legal representatives requested his release on bail, arguing that he was not convicted of any violent crimes. Judge Subramanian denied this request, recalling the closing arguments where Combs’ attorney emphasised the presence of violence within the case.
Combs boasts a history of prominence in the music industry, and his return to the detention centre post-verdict reportedly garnered a standing ovation from supporters. Prosecutors alleged that Combs orchestrated a criminal enterprise, employing threats, violence, and coercion to compel former partners, including Cassie Ventura and a woman known by the pseudonym Jane, to participate in illicit activities described as “Freak Offs,” which involved drug-influenced sexual encounters with male escorts.
While Combs has pleaded not guilty to these allegations, his legal team contended that any such activities were consensual within the context of his long-term relationships. Additionally, Combs faces a myriad of civil lawsuits, which he has categorically denied, asserting no wrongdoing.
As the case progresses, the legal community continues to scrutinise the implications of the verdicts and the upcoming sentencing. The focus remains on the extent of sentencing Combs will face and the broader ramifications of the charges brought against him.