Popular Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain behind bars after a federal judge denied his bail request following a partial conviction in his high-profile trial in New York.
Recall that a jury found Combs guilty of transporting individuals for prostitution but acquitted him of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Despite the split verdict, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled on Tuesday that Combs must stay in custody until his sentencing, citing his “history of violence” and the severity of the conviction.
Combs, who faces up to 20 years in prison, has been held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn since his arrest in September last year.
His lawyers argued he posed no flight risk, noting that his private jet was currently chartered in Hawaii and he had complied with all court appearances. But the judge was unconvinced, saying that the nature of the charges and Combs’ prior conduct made pre-sentencing release inappropriate.
The two-month trial painted a damning picture of the music mogul’s empire. Federal prosecutors accused him of leveraging his wealth and influence to operate a network that trafficked women under the guise of glamour and fame. While jurors ultimately cleared him of racketeering and trafficking, they found enough evidence to convict on one key count.
After 13 hours of deliberation, the jury reached a mixed verdict that still leaves Combs facing significant prison time. Sentencing is scheduled for later this year.
