Diddy Judge Denies Request to Overturn Prostitution Convictions—as Rapper Prepares to Face Sentencing

The judge overseeing Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial has denied the rapper's request to overturn his two prostitution-related convictions—meaning that the music mogul's planned sentencing will go ahead on Friday.

Diddy's lawyers had submitted a motion to toss out his convictions on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution or grant him a new trial, and arguments for and against this motion were heard by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in a Manhattan courtroom last week.

Each of the convictions carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

After several days of deliberation—and just hours before the 55-year-old rapper is due to be sentenced—Judge Subramian has turned down the request, rejecting the defense's argument that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to prove that Diddy was transporting people for the purpose of paying for sex.

According to USA Today, the judge said that the evidence provided by the prosecution to support their charges was "overwhelming." He also rejected Diddy's attorneys' attempt to restrict the definition of "prostitution."

This means that Diddy's sentencing will now go ahead as planned—with the prosecution previously stating in a memo to Judge Subramian that they feel he deserves at least 11 years in prison, noting in the document that they believe he is "unrepentant."

Meanwhile, the rapper's ex, Cassie Ventura, whom he was convicted of transporting for prostitution, has asked the judge to take into account "the many lives that Sean Combs has upended with his abuse and control," according to The New York Times.

Ventura's testimony was a key piece of evidence in the prosecution's case during Diddy's trial, which concluded on July 2, when the jury handed down their verdict—declaring him guilty on two prostitution-related counts, but clearing him of the two more serious charges of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy.

Diddy, who was indicted in Manhattan in September 2024, had pled not guilty to all charges against him—with his lawyers arguing that he had not engaged in any nonconsensual sex acts.

The prosecution also revealed a trove of images taken inside each of Diddy's homes during Homeland Security raids that took place in March, when agents discovered an array of disturbing items, including cases of baby oil, prescription drugs, and AR-15 weapon parts.

They also shared many details about the illicit "freak off" parties that Diddy is accused of holding in both of the abodes—one of which is currently on the market for $61.5 million.

In the indictment against Diddy, authorities accused him of using his "power and prestige" to "abuse, threaten and coerce women ... to fulfill his sexual desires" during these events.

They also claimed that the musician "created a criminal empire" that "engaged in, and attempted to engage in ... sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."

Prosecutors alleged that at the heart of this "criminal empire" were Diddy's "freak off" parties, which the indictment described as "elaborate and produced sex performances" that involved women being coerced into sex and drug abuse. The indictment alleged that Diddy kept video of these events to prevent any of the participants from coming forward with complaints.

"Freak-off activity is the core of this case, and freak-offs are inherently dangerous," prosecutor Emily A. Johnson said during a hearing in September.

Authorities claimed that Diddy held these "freak-offs" in a number of locations, including at his Holmby Hills mansion, his estate on Miami's exclusive Star Island, as well as several hotel rooms. Agents are said to have found more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and several firearms during their raids on his two properties.

In her letter to the judge, Ventura called attention to these events, stating that, while the jury did not find Diddy guilty of the sex-trafficking offenses, she maintains that her participation in the rapper's "freak offs" was the result of his "coercion."

"While the jury did not seem to understand or believe that I engaged in freak-offs because of the force and coercion the defendant used against me, I know that is the truth, and his sentence should reflect the reality of the evidence and my lived experience as a victim," she wrote.

Diddy has been behind bars in a Brooklyn jail since his September 2024 arrest—having had his initial plea for bail rejected soon after he was taken into custody.

The rapper offered to post a $50 million bond to secure his release from prison, stating that he would use his Miami mansion, which was valued at $48 million in bail plea, as collateral, as well as a $2 million property owned by his mother.

Diddy also offered to limit his travel to Miami and New York City, and claimed that he would keep his private jet—which he said he was trying to sell—parked in Los Angeles, to limit flight risk.

Meanwhile, the musician's Holmby Hills home, which he bought for $39 million in 2014, was put on the market just days before his arrest and the listing has remained active throughout his subsequent trial.

Despite Diddy being found guilty on two counts, the rapper can still proceed with the sale of the home, according to legal experts—however, what becomes of the money from a sale could well be left in the hands of the authorities.

"Generally speaking, he can sell his home, but given the legal action mounting against him, the court will likely have a say in how the proceeds are disbursed," Cara Ameer, an agent with Coldwell Banker in California, previously revealed to Realtor.com®.

However, if a buyer comes forward in the wake of Diddy's conviction, the federal government "can put a lien on the asset" and have a say in where the money goes, Justin Paperny, a crisis manager for White Collar Advice, explained.

Paperny added that Combs could also use the money from any sale to offer a settlement to victims, which may help him to receive a lighter sentence.

"You can’t buy your way out of prison, but if you come up with a chunk of money, it helps," he said.

The legal expert noted that, if Diddy was found guilty, he would need to offer up "a huge number to the courts to get leniency" in his sentencing—a number that could well be bolstered by the sale of the infamous dwelling.

Ameer also pointed out that Combs may well end up with sky-high legal costs and may well need the money from the sale of his home in order to cover them.

"It might be he has to sell his home to pay for his legal costs as well as restitution that is being sought for his victims," she said. "He may end up having to liquidate a lot of his assets if he can’t afford to pay out of pocket. A court may have oversight of where the proceeds from the sale go in that instance."

However, given the stigma around the property, a sale at his desired price might be a tough hill to climb.

If Combs takes the home off the market, he could always rent it out as a "trophy property," Paperny noted, explaining that notable clients of his, with high-end homes, have made their real estate available on Airbnb for as much as $20,000 a night.

He added of the current asking price that Combs "could be asking too much. People might not want the affiliation to him."