Sean “Diddy” Combs has been convicted of illegal prostitution but acquitted of meatier sex-trafficking and racketeering charges, a significant legal victory for the disgraced rap mogul who faced up to life in prison if found guilty on all counts.
What’s next for Combs? Following the verdict on Wednesday (July 2), there will be a lengthy process before Judge Arun Subramanian decides the rapper’s sentence. He’ll be interviewed by the U.S. Probation Department, which will calculate suggested sentencing guidelines based on various factors like Combs’ criminal history and the seriousness of his offense.
After this process, which can take months, Judge Subramanian will hold a sentencing hearing. The charges that Combs was found guilty of – transporting escorts across state lines for marathon sex parties called “freak-offs” – carry no mandatory minimum and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Combs faced a far lengthier prison term if he’d been convicted on the other charges he faced: forcing women to have sex with escorts during the freak-offs, and operating a criminal syndicate under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
If Combs had been convicted under RICO in addition to the prostitution charge, he’d face a maximum of 40 years behind bars. If he had been found guilty of sex-trafficking, he faced a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and maximum of life behind bars.
As it stands, Combs defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said Wednesday that the rapper should be immediately released from the pretrial jail where he’s been in custody since his arrest last year.
Agnifilo said Combs has “been given his life by this jury” and should be allowed to await sentencing from his home in Miami, according to CNN. Prosecutor Maureen Comey opposed the request, saying her office intends to seek prison time and noting that Combs “continued to commit a litany of crimes” after he knew he was under investigation last year.
Judge Subramanian asked both sides to submit letters on the matter by this afternoon and said he’ll make a decision afterwards about whether Combs will be released.