Lawyers representing hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs have filed an appeal with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, seeking immediate release from prison and a reversal of his conviction on prostitution-related charges, or a reduction of his four-year sentence. The legal team contends that Combs was subjected to unfair treatment during sentencing, which allegedly was influenced by evidence related to charges from which he was acquitted.
At the age of 56, Combs is currently serving his sentence in a federal prison in New Jersey, with a scheduled release date in May 2028. In July, he was acquitted of serious charges such as racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking but was convicted under the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for sexual offenses.
During the appeal, Combs' lawyers criticized Judge Arun Subramanian for acting as a "thirteenth juror" during the sentencing process, claiming that he allowed evidence from the acquitted charges to unjustly impact the sentencing outcome. The legal representatives pointed out that Combs was found guilty of lesser prostitution-related offenses that did not require any force, fraud, or coercion.
The lawyers highlighted that sentences for similar offenses usually result in prison time of less than 15 months, even when coercion is present, which the jury did not find in Combs' case. They contended that Judge Subramanian disregarded the jury's verdict and claimed that Combs "coerced, exploited, and forced" his former girlfriends into sexual activities, which led to an unusually lengthy sentence.
During the sentencing, Judge Subramanian remarked on the serious nature of the offenses, stating that he considered the testimonies of two former girlfriends who alleged that Combs physically abused them and coerced them into having sexual encounters with male sex workers while he watched and filmed the incidents. The former girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura recounted that Combs ordered her to engage in "disgusting" sexual acts with strangers hundreds of times throughout their relationship, which lasted over a decade. The trial also presented video evidence showing Combs physically dragging and beating her in a hotel hallway after one of these incidents.
Another former girlfriend, who testified under the pseudonym "Jane," described being pressured by Combs into sexual encounters with male workers during what he called "hotel nights," which were characterized by drug-fueled sexual activities that lasted several days and occurred between 2021 and 2024.
In his remarks during sentencing, Judge Subramanian expressed a stark rejection of the defense's portrayal of the events as consensual relationships or merely tales of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. He emphasized that Combs abused his power and control over the women in question, resulting in significant physical, emotional, and psychological harm. Furthermore, he criticized Combs for using that abusive control to manipulate the women, particularly during the "freak-offs" and "hotel nights." The judge's statements underscored the gravity of the offenses and the impact they had on the victims.
