Sean “Diddy” Combs is back in the headlines, and this time it’s his lawyers making the noise. They’re asking a New York federal judge to keep his upcoming sentence short—just 14 months. Since he’s already served over a year, that would mean the music mogul could walk out of jail almost immediately if the judge agrees.
The request was reportedly filed Monday in a written submission to Judge Arun Subramanian. That same judge has already shut down a $50 million bail package, which suggests he isn’t convinced Combs is getting out anytime soon.
Combs is set to be sentenced on October 3 after a Manhattan jury found him guilty in July of two Mann Act violations, which make it illegal to transport people across state lines for prostitution. Each charge carries up to 10 years in prison.
He was cleared, however, of the far more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. A conviction on those would have meant at least 15 years behind bars, possibly life. His defense team believes the split verdict sent a clear message.
“Put simply, the jury has spoken. Its verdict represents an ‘affirmative indication of innocence,’” his lawyers wrote.
They argue that Combs has already paid a steep price, spending over a year locked up in one of America’s toughest jails. “It is time for Mr. Combs to go home to his family, so he can continue his treatment and try to make the most of the next chapter of his extraordinary life,” they said.
Prosecutors see things differently. They’re expected to give their own sentencing recommendation before the October hearing. Early on, they thought four to five years was reasonable. Now, they’ve made it clear they’ll be pushing for something “substantially longer.” Defense lawyers countered that prosecutors “have lost all perspective.”
In the matter of USA v. Combs,
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The issues before the court for Thursday's hearing on motion for acquittal or new trial.pic.twitter.com/zKJWIs6LGW
The Diddy Docket (@diddydocket) September 22, 2025
The trial itself was packed with explosive testimony. Two of Combs’ former girlfriends took the stand and described being pressured into dayslong, drug-fueled sex sessions with male sex workers while Combs watched, sometimes filming the encounters.
Singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, who dated Combs from 2007 to 2018, testified she took part in hundreds of what were called “freak-offs.” Another ex, identified only as “Jane,” told the jury she had similar experiences between 2021 and 2022 before Combs’ arrest at a New York hotel.
Jurors also heard accounts of Combs physically abusing his girlfriends and using violence—or the threat of it—to maintain control. Defense attorneys admitted there was domestic abuse but said prosecutors failed to prove the specific charges tied to prostitution.
Now it all comes down to the sentencing. Combs’ lawyers are betting that the jury’s decision to clear him of the most severe charges will weigh heavily. Prosecutors are preparing to argue the opposite.
Either way, the world will find out on October 3 how much longer, if at all, Sean “Diddy” Combs stays behind bars.
