Sean “Diddy” Combs is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, and prosecutors are pushing for the embattled music executive to spend more than a decade behind bars.
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, Combs, who is still in custody, was arrested by federal agents on September 16 last year and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has, however, maintained his innocence.
But on July 2, a jury convicted Combs of two counts of Mann Act violations for transporting male escorts and former girlfriends Cassie Ventura and “Jane” for sex. He was also facing life in prison if convicted of the more grievous sex trafficking and racketeering charges, but he was ultimately acquitted by the jury.
RELATED STORIES
Despite his acquittal, Judge Arun Subramanian, on July 2, ruled that Combs remain in custody ahead of his sentencing on Friday, October 3. On Monday, September 22, Combs’ attorneys asked the judge to sentence him to no more than 14 months, and that should include his time served behind bars.
READ ALSO: Diddy’s fellow inmates support him in letters sent to judge ahead of sentencing [Read]
But prosecutors, in a new court filing, are urging the judge to sentence Combs to “at least 135 months” in prison and also fine him $500,000, TMZ reported. The Bad Boy Records founder could be handed a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Prosecutors described Combs’ offenses as “serious” and made mention of defendants who had been handed over 10-year prison sentences for crimes of such nature. They also claim that the 55-year-old is “unrepentant,” adding that during his trial, he did not deny being abusive and violent toward his victims. Prosecutors allege that despite Combs’ admission, he is now of the view that “his victims should shoulder the blame.”
Prosecutors also claim that Combs wants to “recast decades of abuse” as a mutually toxic relationship, TMZ reported. “But there is nothing mutual about a relationship where one person holds all the power and the other ends up bloodied and bruised,” they added.
They further argue that Combs’ punishment must “reflect the substantial psychological, emotional, and physical damage he has inflicted.”
READ ALSO: Diddy undergoing program for drug use and domestic violence as he awaits sentencing
