A judge has denied Sean “Diddy” Combs’s latest bid for bail, ruling that the music mogul must remain in custody until his sentencing on prostitution-related charges. Combs, 55, was convicted last month on two counts of a prostitution-related offense but acquitted of more serious charges including racketeering and sex trafficking.
The conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, though federal guidelines are not mandatory and Judge Arun Subramanian will have wide discretion. Prosecutors and defence lawyers disagree on how the guidelines apply to Combs’s case.
Combs has been held since his arrest in September 2023. His lawyers argued that the acquittals undermined the rationale for detention and pointed to others released on similar convictions. Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested Combs was the “only person in jail for hiring adult male escorts for him and his girlfriend”.
The defence proposed a $50m bond, travel restrictions, and offered house arrest at his Miami home with electronic monitoring and private security. Prosecutors opposed release, citing Combs’s “extensive history of violence” and arguing he is not amenable to supervision.
Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records, was a prominent figure in hip-hop and pop culture for decades. Prosecutors alleged he used fame, wealth, and violence to coerce girlfriends into drug-fueled sexual performances he called “freak-offs”. His lawyers maintained the activities were consensual, though they acknowledged violent outbursts.
Sentencing is set for October. Combs remains in jail pending that date.
