The federal judge overseeing Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial has rejected his motion to overturn his conviction, clearing the path for his sentencing this week.
According to court documents obtained by Complex, Judge Arun Subramanian—who presided over the mogul’s eight-week trial this summer—denied the request to throw out the convictions. The judge said prosecutors presented “overwhelming evidence” of Diddy’s guilt under the Mann Act, citing testimony from Cassie Ventura, another woman identified as Jane, multiple escorts, as well as text messages and emails. “The government proved its case many times over,” Subramanian wrote in his 16-page ruling.
The decision came shortly after U.S. attorney Jay Clayton submitted a 189-page filing urging a harsh sentence. The document included letters from Diddy’s former associates and employees, with Clayton stating that Diddy is “unrepentant” and “engaged in violence and put others in fear.” He recommended no less than 135 months in prison.
Among the letters was one from Cassie Ventura, who wrote: “He will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is.”
On Sept. 25, Diddy’s team had attempted to argue for a new trial or dismissal of his convictions, claiming his actions shouldn’t be considered prostitution since he had no financial stake in the “freak-offs.” They suggested his frequent filming of those encounters should qualify him as an “amateur pornographer,” protected under the First Amendment. His attorney also criticized the Mann Act’s “racist and sexist” history, calling its origins “an embarrassment to the United States of America.”
Diddy is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 3 on two counts of transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution.
