Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers asked for the disgraced rapper’s near-immediate release from prison ahead of his sentencing.
In a sentencing memorandum filed late Monday, the “Act Bad” rapper’s legal team argued that since Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking, his case warrants a lighter sentence than the probation department’s recommendation of a maximum of more than seven years.
“In the past two years, Mr. Combs’s career and reputation have been destroyed,” the filing obtained by Page Six stated.
“He has served over a year in one of the most notorious jails in America—yet has made the most of that punishment. It is time for Mr. Combs to go home to his family, so he can continue his treatment and try to make the most of the next chapter of his extraordinary life.”
Combs’ attorneys claimed their client has faced “just punishment for the offense” from spending time behind bars in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, NY.
They claimed the three-time Grammy winner, 55, has been on constant suicide watch, has had limited access to clean water and lack of access to healthy and edible food.
“Considering these conditions, Mr. Combs’s time served has already been substantially more punitive than the average time served by other defendants convicted under the Mann Act, and a sentence of no more than 14 months is sufficient ‘just punishment,’” the filing stated.
Combs’ lawyers claimed their client’s behavior has “markedly improved” while he’s been in treatment at MDC.
The memo also featured more than 75 letters of support from family and friends, including the Revolt co-founder’s mother, Janice Combs, his eldest six kids and his ex rapper Caresha “Yung Miami” Brownlee.
A character witness letter was also written by Sean’s ex-girlfriend Virginia “Gina” Huynh, who previously accused the “Last Night” emcee of “[stomping] on [her] stomach really hard” to where she “couldn’t breathe.”
On July 2, Sean was found guilty of two counts of prostitution — each carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison.
During the trial, jurors heard from a range of people, including the Sean John clothing founder’s ex Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who claimed she was raped and abused by the hip-hop mogul.
Sean’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3.
He is still facing dozens of lawsuits from men and women, accusing him of a range of sexual misconduct and other illegal activity. He has denied all wrongdoing.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.