Oct. 2 (UPI) — Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to be sentenced Friday for his July 2 conviction of two counts of transportation for the purposes of prostitution.
The rapper and music mogul, 55, faced a long list of charges but was acquitted of the most serious — human trafficking.
In September, his lawyers asked the court to only sentence him to 14 months, which would be almost time served. But prosecutors have asked for 11 years.
“Mr. Combs’s near-13 months in prison has been life changing, productive, and a testament to his desire to return to his family and community and lead the best life possible,” his lawyers said. “He has taken the time to achieve necessary rehabilitation from day one at the [Metropolitan Detention Center] — including getting clean of all substances.”
The memo was 380 pages and included letters from his mother, children, friends and business associates. It took issue with recommendations by prosecutors and the Probation Department for tougher sentences.
Combs has been in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in September 2024.
Last week, Combs’ attorneys asked Judge Arun Subramanian to throw out the convictions because his intent was voyeurism, not profit.
“To our knowledge, Mr. Combs is the only person ever convicted of violating the statute for conduct anything like this,” said his defense attorneys in a written filing. “The proof at trial showed that he typically hired the services of male escorts or dancers advertised openly through lawful businesses, that the men were paid for their time, and that they enjoyed the activities and had friendships with Ms. [Cassie] Ventura and Jane [a pseudonym] and were not merely traveling to have sex for money.”
They also argued that Combs’ actions are protected by the First Amendment because the events were recorded to watch privately.
“The freak-offs and hotel nights were performances that he or his girlfriends typically videotaped so they could watch them later. In other words, he was producing amateur pornography for later private viewing,” the defense said.
But prosecutors argued that Combs used violence and drugs to force the women to comply and that the prostitution transportation was for them to “engage in sex acts for pay.”
Subramanian denied Combs’ request.
Adding to Combs’ legal issues, on Sept. 24, his former stylist, who had testified against him in his criminal trial, filed a lawsuit against him. Deonte Nash, who was hired by Combs as a stylist at age 21 in 2008, alleges multiple violent and sexual charges, human-trafficking, and false imprisonment.
Nash “personally experienced sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse at the hands of Defendants during his 10-year employment,” court documents said.
