Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied bail after a jury convicted him of transportation to engage in prostitution, but acquitted him of the most serious charges: racketeering and sex-trafficking.
Lawyers for the recording artist had argued he posed no flight risk, pointing out his jet is being chartered in Hawaii.
The government intends to seek a sentence of incarceration, and Combs still faces up to 20 years in prison for the two counts he has been convicted of, according to Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey.
In the nearly two-month federal trial in New York City, prosecutors accused Combs of using his celebrity status and business empire to run a criminal enterprise to sex traffic women.
Teny Geragos, one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorneys, maintained that the music mogul “has not sexually assaulted anybody” after the verdict in his federal criminal trial.
“He has not sexually assaulted anybody, certainly hasn’t sex trafficked anybody and the jury found that today,” she added.
Following his bail hearing, Sean “Diddy” Combs faced his family and told them, “We’re gonna make it through this,” blowing kisses to the two rows in the courtroom filled with his family and friends.
“I love you all,” he said. “Be strong.”
Just before being led out of the courtroom and back into detention he said, “I love you, mom.”
He will continue to be held at the same federal jail in Brooklyn where he has been detained since last September.
The sentencing was tentatively scheduled for October 3.
