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Sean Combs could walk outside of a lower Manhattan court on Wednesday evening following his acquittal on sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
After Combs was found guilty on two lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, his attorneys immediately filed a motion for the 55-year-old to be released from custody pending his upcoming sentencing.
Pointing out Combs’ sobbing and relieved family members seated just a few feet behind a rejoicing Combs, who had just been cleared of sex trafficking his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, the hip-hop mogul’s lead attorney Marc Agnifilo did his best to assure Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs would “not run afoul of anything this court imposes on him.”
“Mr. Combs has been given his life by this jury,” Agnifilo added, adding his client would be “nothing short of a fool” to violate a court order.
Offering a $1 million bond, Combs’ lawyers put forward several other possible conditions of his release in the letter they submitted to Subramanian later that afternoon. Arguing their client was not a flight risk — and noting he hasn’t had passport since his homes were raided and searched last March — they called for restricting his travel to parts of Florida and California (where he has homes), as well as New York and New Jersey (for meetings with lawyers and court appearances). They also said Combs would continue to submit to drug tests as ordered by Pretrial Services.
But Southern District of New York prosecutors adamantly oppose Combs’ release, as well as Ventura, whose attorney Douglas Wigdor filed a separate letter to the court. “Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community,” he wrote.
Government witness, stylist and Ventura’s close friend Deonte Nash also submitted a letter, citing “grave concern” at the possibility of Combs’ release. “I feel compelled to be unequivocal about the danger he poses to the public and to the individuals who have risked everything by coming forward,” Nash wrote, noting Combs’ “long, well-documented history of violent, coercive, and retaliatory behavior” and calling him a “serious and immediate threat to victims, witnesses, and the broader community.”
“He’s not going to stop, it’s his personality. This is innate to him,” a plaintiff who has filed a civil lawsuit against Combs tells Rolling Stone. “There’s real fear. Now we have to look over our shoulders.”
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Prosecutors raised concerns that Combs would “flagrantly disregard orders from this court” if released. They cited evidence presented during the trial that Combs “continued to commit a litany of crimes” — such as alleged abuse and drug use — even after he knew he was under federal investigation.
“This is very, very serious conduct,” said lead prosecutor Maurene Comey, who also reminded the judge that Combs did not “contest” that there was rampant domestic violence and substance abuse throughout the charged conduct. She raised concerns that Combs would “commit new crimes” and attempt to flee if given the chance.
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The court will reconvene at 5 p.m. to decide on the motion.
Combs has now cleared the risk of serving life in prison on the three most serious counts against him. Still, the prostitution conviction could land Combs in prison for up to 20 years, with each charge carrying a possible sentence of up to 10 years. Legal experts, however, have noted that the actual sentence could be less severe, especially since Combs had no prior criminal record. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
