Sean Combs’s legal team has formally requested a lighter sentence ahead of his October 3rd sentencing for prostitution charges. They’ve framed the music mogul as a changed man, suggesting that his recent trial, which saw him acquitted of more serious accusations, largely cleared his name.
In documents submitted late Monday, Combs’s attorneys contended that, given his acquittal on the most severe charges, a prison term of no more than 14 months is appropriate. This is a significantly shorter period compared to the probation department’s suggested maximum of seven-and-a-quarter years.
With Combs already having served over a year in a Brooklyn jail, his lawyers’ proposal, if approved by the judge, would see him released less than two months after his official sentencing.
“Mr. Combs has already witnessed how an arrest and conviction can shatter one’s reputation and severely impact business ventures,” his legal team stated. “He acknowledges the profound repercussions his actions have had on himself and his family.”
Following an eight-week trial at Federal District Court in Manhattan this past summer, a jury found Mr. Combs guilty of violating the Mann Act, a federal law prohibiting the transport of individuals across state lines for prostitution. Crucially, he was acquitted of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, which could have resulted in a life sentence.
The two convictions stem from travel arrangements made for two ex-girlfriends—Casandra Ventura and a woman identified as Jane—as well as male escorts. These individuals reportedly engaged in drug-fueled sexual encounters, termed “freak-offs” and “hotel nights,” for Mr. Combs. Each of these counts carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Prosecutors, who are still preparing their official sentencing recommendations, have indicated they will push for substantial prison time. They intend to emphasize Mr. Combs’s history of domestic abuse as a significant aggravating factor.
During the trial, Ms. Ventura provided testimony alleging that Mr. Combs subjected her to repeated beatings throughout their ten-year relationship. Jane also described a physical altercation that resulted in visible welts on her head. While the defense acknowledged these acts of violence, the jury ultimately concluded that the women were not forced or coerced into participating in the “freak-offs.”
In their submitted documents, Mr. Combs’s lawyers attributed the assaults discussed during the trial “often to” his addiction to painkillers. They also highlighted that his time at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn had enabled him to achieve sobriety from drugs and alcohol.
Their submission included numerous letters of support from Mr. Combs’s associates, among them family members, friends, and even rapper Caresha Brownlee, also known as Yung Miami, with whom he had a relationship.
Ms. Brownlee wrote, “I believe it’s crucial for the court to see the side of Sean that often goes unacknowledged — the man who invested in others, created opportunities, inspired by example, and loved profoundly.”
To achieve a reduced sentence, the defense attorneys aimed to position Mr. Combs’s case as less severe compared to other Mann Act violations. They cited examples of defendants who had acted as pimps, exploited underage victims, and trafficked undocumented immigrants.
Conversely, prosecutors maintain that Mr. Combs is a habitual offender, having transported individuals for prostitution on “hundreds” of occasions. They allege he supplied drugs to the women involved to ensure their participation in the sex marathons and violated the Mann Act just a month before his arrest, fully aware that he was under federal investigation.
The government is anticipated to present its sentencing recommendation soon. Their initial calculations, guided by sentencing guidelines, suggested a minimum of four and a quarter years, but they have signaled that their final recommendation might be considerably higher.
While the prosecution, defense, and probation office all reference the same sentencing guidelines, the method of their application in this specific case remains contentious. For instance, the defense has challenged the government’s argument that the paid male escorts involved in “freak-offs” should be classified as victims, a designation that would significantly increase the potential sentence.
Judge Arun Subramanian, presiding over Mr. Combs’s case, is required to consider federal sentencing guidelines when determining the final sentence, but he possesses considerable discretion in his ultimate ruling.
Prior to sentencing, Judge Subramanian is scheduled to review Mr. Combs’s motion to annul the jury’s verdict, arguing that he should not have been prosecuted under the Mann Act at all. A hearing for this matter is set for Thursday, where Mr. Combs is expected to make his initial court appearance since the trial concluded.