Sentencing Date Set for Diddy, Judge Rejects Sympathy Plea

Sean “Diddy” Combs is now scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, following an agreement between federal prosecutors and his legal team to stick with the court’s original timeline after extended back-and-forth.

The music executive, who was recently acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, remains in federal detention.

The presiding judge has made it clear that appeals for leniency won’t be entertained lightly.

During a short virtual hearing on Tuesday, which Diddy joined via audio from the Metropolitan Detention Center, he greeted his lawyer calmly, though the gravity of the upcoming sentencing was unmistakable.

Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, and federal prosecutor Christy Slavik confirmed there were no further disputes over scheduling. The court’s deputy clerk noted that a written response from the judge would follow.

Yet the formality of the hearing belies the deeper legal tensions still in play.

Federal Judge Arun Subramanian has consistently denied Diddy bail, underscoring that the trial exposed a pattern of abusive behavior — particularly against women — regardless of the acquittals. He cited the now widely circulated 2016 surveillance footage showing Diddy assaulting his former partner, Cassie, in a hotel corridor.

“You said this case had violence. Domestic violence is violence,” Judge Subramanian firmly stated during last week’s bail denial, dismissing the defense’s proposal for a $1 million bond and house arrest in Miami.

While Diddy avoided a potential life sentence after the jury cleared him of racketeering and trafficking charges, his conviction on two prostitution-related counts still carries serious consequences. Prosecutors are pushing for a sentence of four to five years, arguing that accountability is essential.

His defense, on the other hand, is urging the court to consider a shorter sentence — around two years — referencing his clean criminal record and his compliance during the proceedings.

Despite their efforts, the overall tone from the court suggests a tougher stance.

“The government and the Probation Office do not object to the timeline,” Agnifilo stated in a letter submitted to the court.

The agreed-upon schedule includes:
• Pre-sentence report: August 29
• Defense objections: September 5
• Prosecution response: September 12