A federal judge has denied bail to hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs after a jury convicted him of transporting women for prostitution. Although Combs was acquitted of the more severe charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, he will remain in custody pending sentencing, where he faces up to 20 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian cited Combs’ documented history of violence in his decision to reject the bail request. The rapper and entrepreneur has been held at a federal jail in Brooklyn since his arrest in September.
His legal team argued that Combs posed no flight risk, noting that his private jet is currently chartered in Hawaii.
Defence attorney Marc Agnifilo urged the court to trust his client, highlighting Combs’ voluntary participation in a domestic violence reform program and the absence of any violent incidents since 2018.
“I just think we should trust him,” Agnifilo said during the hearing.
However, Combs’ former partner, musician Casandra Ventura, warned in a letter to the court that releasing him would pose a danger.
“Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community,” her lawyer wrote.
The judge ultimately concluded that bail was inappropriate, noting that “the defence conceded violence in his personal relationship.”
The nearly two-month federal trial in Manhattan drew significant media attention. Prosecutors alleged that Combs leveraged his celebrity status and business empire to run a criminal operation involving sex trafficking, coercion, and abuse.
A jury of 12 deliberated for 13 hours before acquitting him on three of the five most serious counts, including racketeering and sex trafficking, charges that each carry a maximum life sentence.
The courtroom turned emotional as the verdict was read. Combs was seen dropping to his knees, burying his face in his chair, and trembling as the jury announced the partial acquittal.
Jurors had informed the court a day earlier that they had reached verdicts on the sex-trafficking and prostitution-related charges but were deadlocked on the racketeering count, describing the issue as too complex with “unpersuadable” opinions on both sides.
The racketeering charge was filed under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), requiring prosecutors to prove Combs led a criminal enterprise that engaged in crimes such as sex trafficking, kidnapping, and obstruction of justice.
Defence lawyers argued the case did not meet the legal threshold for racketeering, contending that Combs’ employees were not knowingly complicit in any criminal activity.
During the trial, the prosecution called more than 30 witnesses, including Ventura, rapper Kid Cudi, former employees, and hotel security staff, over the course of seven weeks.
Central to the case was Ventura’s testimony. Speaking while eight months pregnant, she alleged that Combs pressured her into sex acts and threatened to release footage if she refused.
Prosecutors also introduced surveillance footage from a 2016 incident at a Los Angeles hotel that showed Combs beating and dragging Ventura in a hallway. Hotel security testified that Combs tried to pay them to delete the footage.
Combs’ lawyers acknowledged his history of violence toward women but argued that his actions were driven by personal issues like jealousy and drug use, not evidence of a coordinated criminal enterprise.
Beyond this trial, Combs faces multiple civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and abuse. Despite the legal turmoil, Combs remains a towering figure in the entertainment industry.
Born in Harlem, he launched Bad Boy Records in 1993, a label that helped shape the sound of 1990s hip hop with artists like The Notorious B.I.G. and Usher. His business ventures have since expanded to include the Sean John clothing line, spirits brands, and a media company.
Sentencing has been tentatively set for 3 October.
