Judge denies Combs' request for bail ahead of October sentencing

A federal judge Monday declined hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs' latest request to post bail ahead of his sentencing for two prostitution-related convictions.

A New York jury last month found Combs guilty on two of the five charges he faced, but acquitted him on the most serious charge of racketeering conspiracy and acquitted him on two sex-trafficking charges. He was convicted of Mann Act violations for the transportation of former girlfriends Casandra Ventura and an anonymous one referred to as "Jane."

Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian of the Southern District of New York to release his client from federal detention, where he has been for almost a year. Since Combs is no longer charged with sex trafficking, Agnifilo asked that he be released to his home in Miami.

The hip hop star's attorneys argued that their client's case was "exceptional" because he and his team engaged in a "swingers" lifestyle that a jury found was not coerced. The attorneys had to prove the case was exceptional and Combs was not a flight risk or posed a danger to anyone in order to be released. 

Subramanian on Monday ruled that the defense did not meet the standard to convince him that the case was "exceptional" and that "increasing the amount of the bond or devising additional conditions doesn’t change the calculus given the circumstances and heavy burden of proof that Combs bears," per the New York Times.

The judge also emphasized Comb's history of violence, which was displayed in security footage, and his other former girlfriend also accused Combs of being violent against her. 

“Combs’s Mann Act arguments might have traction in a case that didn’t involve evidence of violence, coercion or subjugation in connection with the acts of prostitution at issue,” the judge wrote, “but the record here contains evidence of all three.”

Combs faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the two violations, but the government has recommended at least 51 to 63 months’ imprisonment. Combs' team recommended two years in prison. 

The rapper is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.