Attorneys representing Sean “Diddy” Combs have formally notified a US federal court of their intent to appeal the rap mogul’s conviction and his 50-month prison sentence. A notice of appeal was filed on Monday, with the expectation that the full appeal documents will be submitted soon.
Combs was found guilty on two counts related to transporting individuals for prostitution and was acquitted of two more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. Judge Arun Subramanian emphasized the need for a significant sentence to underscore that abuses against women are met with genuine accountability, imposing a $500,000 fine and five years of probation.
Initially, Combs had sought a 14-month sentence, which would have accounted for his time spent in jail awaiting trial. However, prosecutors had requested a much longer sentence, exceeding 11 years. During his sentencing hearing in September, Combs expressed remorse, stating, “My actions were disgusting, shameful, and sick. I got lost in excess, I got lost in my ego.” He appealed to the judge for mercy and offered apologies to two of the women who testified against him.
The defense team has indicated their intention to appeal both the conviction and the sentence handed down by the judge. Combs was arrested in September 2024, and his trial, which lasted nearly two months, garnered significant international media attention. Prosecutors alleged that Combs leveraged his influence in the music industry to operate a sex trafficking enterprise, compelling his girlfriends to participate in encounters with male escorts.
A substantial portion of the case focused on his relationship with singer Cassandra Ventura, who accused Combs of physical abuse and forcing her into sexual encounters with male escorts. Another accuser, who testified anonymously, reported feeling pressured into similar situations, even when feeling unwell. The jury ultimately acquitted Combs of the most severe charges of sex trafficking and racketeering but found him guilty on the two counts of transportation for prostitution.
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