Sean 'Diddy' Combs rejects plea deal ahead of s£x trafficking trial next week
Sean “Diddy” Combs confirmed at a hearing that he had rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors in his s£x trafficking case, paving the way for his trial to begin next week
“Have you rejected the government’s offer?” U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing his trial in New York, asked him on Thursday, May 1.
“Yes, your honor,” Combs replied.
Combs, 55, is scheduled to stand trial beginning Monday with jury selection on charges of racketeering conspiracy, s£x trafficking and prost!tution that allege he coerced women into prolonged s£xual encounters he called “freak-offs.”
Maurene Comey, an assistant United States attorney, said a guilty plea would have reduced the amount of prison time Combs would be exposed to compared to a trial conviction on all counts, which could result in what is effectively a life sentence.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of s£x trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prost!tution.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said that Combs’ legal team discussed the offer with him and that together they decided to reject it.
One of his attorneys, Teny Geragos raised concerns during the brief conference about statements Los Angeles-based attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents at least two of Combs’ civil accusers made about the case to a documentary.
“We’re concerned with her behavior here,” Geragos said.
Combs was arrested last year after being charged in a sprawling sex trafficking indictment, originally filed in September and followed by multiple superseding indictments, that accuses Combs of being the ringleader of a criminal “enterprise” that allowed him to sexually, physically, emotionally, and verbally abuse his victims for years.
He has denied all the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, s£x trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Jury selection in the trial is scheduled to begin on May 5, with opening statements planned for May 12.
Federal prosecutors said they have as many as 20 potential witnesses, aside from the three main alleged victims, who could testify about Combs’ conduct.
Combs faces decades in prison if convicted.
Among his charges, the racketeering conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, while the s£x trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and as much as a life sentence.
