Diddy Found Guilty of Prostitution Charges in Federal Trial, Denied Bail
Sean “Diddy” Combs, once one of the most powerful figures in music and fashion, will remain behind bars following his conviction on federal charges of transporting an individual to engage in prostitution. A New York jury reached the verdict Wednesday after a seven-week trial that exposed disturbing elements of Combs’ private life and shattered his carefully crafted public image.
Although Combs was acquitted of more severe charges — including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — he was convicted on two felony counts related to the Mann Act, which criminalizes the transportation of individuals across state lines for the purposes of prostitution. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.
No Bail, No Sympathy from the Court
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs’ request for release, rejecting the defense’s argument that the convictions did not trigger mandatory detention. The court found otherwise.
“Continued detention is not only appropriate, it is required,” the judge stated, citing Combs’ financial resources, lack of remorse, and the violent nature of his offenses as justification. He set a tentative sentencing date for October 3, noting that Combs would receive 10 months of credit for time already served.
Federal prosecutors said Combs’ wealth and access to international assets made him a flight risk. They also pointed to his unrepentant attitude toward the abuse of his former girlfriend, known in court records as “Jane.”
“He hasn’t shown an ounce of remorse,” prosecutors told the court. “The defense’s claim that Combs slapping Jane while she was in the shower was self-defense is not only absurd — it’s insulting.”
Graphic Testimony from Victim “Jane”
At the center of the trial was testimony from Jane, who described a pattern of psychological coercion, drug abuse, and forced sexual acts orchestrated by Combs. She recounted how Combs pressured her into participating in so-called “hotel nights” — events where she was forced to have sex with male escorts while Combs watched.
Jane told jurors she repeatedly begged Combs to stop these sessions and expressed how deeply they traumatized her. Prosecutors alleged that Combs stocked drugs and sex paraphernalia in the hotel suite where one of these encounters occurred just before his arrest.
Despite these allegations, the jury found Combs not guilty of sex trafficking — a decision that came as a surprise to many court observers. Nonetheless, the two prostitution-related convictions under the Mann Act were enough to guarantee significant prison time.
A Fall from Grace — and a Fight Ahead
Combs’ legal team, led by high-profile defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, tried to paint the mogul as a man in the process of self-reform.
“He is a man who’s working on himself,” Agnifilo told reporters after the verdict. “Today was a major, major step in the right direction. But we fight on, and we’re not gonna stop until he walks out of prison a free man.”
The defense emphasized that this was Combs’ first conviction, citing his compliance during the trial and his decision to voluntarily return to New York to face charges. They submitted filings invoking the Bail Reform Act, arguing that Combs should be eligible for release pending sentencing because he does not pose a danger to the community.
Federal prosecutors rejected this outright.
“These are crimes of violence, and they mandate detention under federal law,” the prosecution stated in its final memo to the court. “We have found no precedent where a defendant convicted under the Mann Act was released pending sentencing.”
What Comes Next
Combs now faces between 51 and 63 months behind bars according to federal sentencing guidelines. The final sentence could be longer or shorter depending on the court’s interpretation and mitigating factors. While his legal team prepares appeals and motions, Combs will remain at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has been held since his arrest.
Once seen as a mogul, entrepreneur, and cultural icon, Combs now joins the growing list of public figures brought down by serious criminal conduct exposed in the #MeToo era. Whether his influence survives this scandal — or whether he ever walks free again — now lies in the hands of the federal justice system.
Sources:
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CBS News
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sean-diddy-combs-release-decision/ -
The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2025/07/02/diddy-trial-verdict-sex-trafficking-racketeering-release/
