Sean “Diddy” Combs is asking a New York federal judge for leniency ahead of his upcoming sentencing, arguing that time already served and personal rehabilitation warrant a sharply reduced term.
In a sentencing memorandum filed this week, attorneys Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos urged the court to impose no more than 14 months, followed by supervised release with mandatory treatment. Prosecutors, by contrast, are seeking between 51 and 63 months.
Combs, 54, was convicted in July on two counts under the Mann Act for transporting individuals across state lines for illicit purposes. Jurors found that he arranged travel for male sex workers who participated in encounters that Combs often recorded with his former partners. While he was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, the convictions still carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years.
DIDDY TRIAL
Defense counsel argued that the advisory guidelines call for six to twelve months per count and that prosecutors’ request is disproportionate. They pointed to mitigating factors, including the 13 months Combs has already served at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest. Conditions there, the filing said, were “harsh and dehumanizing.”
The defense also emphasized that Combs has no prior criminal record and has maintained an incident-free disciplinary record while in custody. They said he has used his time to achieve sobriety for the first time in 25 years and launched a peer-support program for fellow inmates struggling with addiction.
Attorneys further noted that Combs’ arrest and conviction have devastated his career and finances, in addition to damaging his family life. He supports seven children and his elderly mother, they wrote, underscoring that reputational harm and business collapse already function as punishment.
The defense concluded that a 14-month sentence with treatment and therapy conditions reflects the seriousness of the conduct while recognizing his rehabilitation efforts. By sentencing day, Combs will have already served more than 12 months, making him eligible for release within weeks if the request is granted.
Combs is scheduled to be sentenced October 3 in Manhattan federal court. The decision will determine whether he leaves custody soon or remains incarcerated for several more years.
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