Diddy Denied Bail

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Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bond and will remain in custody until his sentencing following the shocking verdict in his Manhattan federal court trial that found him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution — but not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking charges. While Diddy, 55, faces potential prison time for the two transportation counts, it’s far less than the potential life sentence that could have been handed down had he been saddled with a racketeering conspiracy or sex-trafficking rap. The sentence for a single transportation count ranges from zero to ten years. As judges almost never hand down consecutive sentences, this would mean the longest penalty imposed would likely be a decade; however, Diddy has already been behind bars for ten months, and he could get credit for good behavior down the line, reducing his time even more.

The possibility of Diddy’s release came moments after jurors delivered their verdict. Lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked Judge Arun Subramanian to free Diddy pending sentencing, noting that he was cleared of crimes involving violence. “He remains only charged with prostitution,” Agnifilo told Subramanian earlier Wednesday. “He should be released.” Agnifilo floated the idea of a $1 million bond. Top prosecutor Maurene Comey pushed back, saying that evidence at trial proved Diddy was a threat to the community and posed a danger. Douglas Wigdor, the attorney representing Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, one of the two women who accused Diddy of sex trafficking at his trial, argued against his release. “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,” Wigdor wrote in a letter to Subramanian.