Diddy asks judge for release on time served in prostitution case

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers urged New York federal Judge Arun Subramanian to sentence him to no more than 14 months in prison on two Mann Act charges related to prostitution, a sentence that would likely allow him to be released soon after if granted. The request arrived in a written submission as Subramanian has already rejected a proposed $50 million bail package. Combs faces sentencing Oct. 3 after a July jury conviction on two Mann Act counts, each carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Defense papers describe Combs as a man who has sobered up in prison after decades of substance-use issues; they say he has an 'incident-free' record at the Metropolitan Detention Center. They note his 84-year-old mother and seven children depend on him. Janice Combs wrote in a letter that she wants to spend the last few years of her life with her son and acknowledges he has made mistakes. The filing also highlighted nearly 70 letters of support from Combs' inner circle, including his mother, sister Keisha, and children Chance, D'Lila and Jessie, as well as friends and colleagues. The defense frames the request as a fair and just sentence that would allow him to continue treatment and return to his family.

The defense argues the jury's verdict on the most serious charges signals an 'affirmative indication of innocence' on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking and contends that the two Mann Act counts do not warrant decades in prison. They are asking for 14 months with supervised release, as well as mandated drug treatment and therapy. Prosecutors, who will submit recommendations ahead of the Oct. 3 sentencing, have signaled they will urge a longer sentence than the defense proposes, saying they will seek a sentence substantially longer than the four to five years they previously envisioned.

The proceedings have drawn widespread attention in the entertainment world, with testimony detailing allegations of coercive sexual conduct and drug-fueled encounters involving women connected to Combs. The trial featured dramatic moments, including a cameo by Kanye West, and testimony from former girlfriends who described pressure to participate in sexual activities with male sex workers. Prosecutors painted a picture of a figure who used violence and coercion to control associates; defense attorneys described Combs as a complicated figure who could be jerky but not a racketeer. The jury ultimately convicted him on two Mann Act charges and acquitted him on the more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking counts. Diddy has remained in the Metropolitan Detention Center since the verdict.

If the court approves a 14-month sentence with supervised release, drug treatment and therapy, Combs would be eligible for release after serving most of that term, given the presence of credit for time served and potential conditions attached to any release. The Oct. 3 sentencing marks a pivotal moment in a trial that captivated the music industry and fans around the world.