Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been denied bail and will remain behind bars until his sentencing hearing, following a mixed verdict from a Manhattan jury on Wednesday, July 2. While the music mogul was found guilty on two felony counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, he was acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Combs has been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September 2024.
During his bail hearing, Judge Arun Subramanian heard arguments from prosecutors and Combs’ defense team. Prosecutors argued that Combs posed a threat to witnesses who testified against him during the trial. The defense team requested his release on a $1 million secured bond, with restrictions on travel to specific states as he awaits sentencing.
However, Judge Subramanian denied Combs’ bail, stating that his circumstances did not warrant an exception under the Bail Reform Act. This act requires defendants to prove they are not a flight risk or a danger to the community in order to be granted bail. The judge also cited the prosecution’s concerns, including a letter from Cassie Ventura’s lawyer, Doug Wigdor, stating that Combs did not meet these exceptions.
Wigdor’s letter referenced the Mann Act charges, which mandate detention after convictions related to prostitution. He argued that Combs posed a danger to both victims and the community. Additionally, a letter from Combs’ former stylist, Deonte Nash, echoed these concerns, stating that the rapper was a “serious and immediate threat” to those around him.
As a result, Combs will remain in custody at the MDC until his sentencing hearing, scheduled for this fall. He faces up to 10 years behind bars for each of the felony counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. His defense team is seeking a shorter sentence for the first-time offender, while the prosecution is pushing for a longer prison term. The parties are set to reconvene on October 3 for sentencing, though this date could be moved up if expedited by Combs’ legal team.
