Sean 'Diddy' Combs ordered to remain in custody until sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs, the Grammy-winning hip hop artist and entrepreneur, has been convicted on two counts of transportation for the purposes of prostitution under the Mann Act. The charges stem from coercing girlfriends into drug-fueled sex encounters with male sex workers that he filmed.
The verdict was handed down in 2025, and following his conviction, a judge denied Diddy's request for $50 million bail. The judge ruled that Combs must remain in jail until his sentencing, scheduled for October 3, 2025. The judge's decision was based on the risks of flight and the nature of the coercion and violence involved in the offenses.
The potential sentencing range for each prostitution-related count is up to 10 years in prison. However, the actual sentence could be significantly longer than the initial 4-to-5-year estimate provided by prosecutors. The final sentence will be determined at the October hearing, with the sentence likely falling between roughly 2 years to substantially more, depending on the judge’s decision and sentencing guidelines.
The case has involved allegations of coercion, violence, and drug use linked to the prostitution offenses. Four women testified during the trial that Combs had beaten or sexually assaulted them. Prosecutors opposed releasing Combs, stating that his "extensive history of violence - and his continued attempt to minimize his recent violent conduct - demonstrates his dangerousness."
In contrast, Combs' defense argued that the government was trying to criminalize consensual, if unconventional, sexual tastes that played out in complicated relationships. The defense acknowledged that Combs had violent outbursts but maintained that he was not guilty of the charges.
One piece of evidence presented in court was a video showing Combs hurling one of his former girlfriends, R&B singer Cassie, to the floor, repeatedly kicking her, and dragging her down a hotel hallway.
Despite the conviction, Combs presides over a business empire that ranges from fashion to reality TV. His defense argued that the acquittals undercut the rationale for holding him, and they pointed to other people who were released before sentencing on similar convictions. Since the verdict, Combs' lawyers have repeatedly renewed their efforts to get him out on bail until his sentencing in October.
However, the guidelines for calculating sentences in Combs' case are complicated, and there is substantial disagreement between prosecutors and Combs' lawyers. The defense's most recent proposal for bail included a $50 million bond, travel restrictions, house arrest at his Miami home, electronic monitoring, private security guards, and other requirements.
The conviction carries the potential for up to 10 years in prison, but the actual sentence will depend on the judge’s discretion and the sentencing guidelines. The final sentence will be determined at the October hearing.
In light of the verdict, the media coverage on Sean "Diddy" Combs' conviction expanded to include general-news, crime-and-justice, and entertainment sections, as the case involved celebrities and allegations of coercion, violence, and drug use. Despite his defense team's continuous efforts to secure his release on bail ahead of his October sentencing, the judge's denial has brought the spotlight to the potential length of Combs' sentence, which could greatly surpass the initial estimates provided by prosecutors.
