Diddy Appeals Four-Year Prison Sentence Over Prostitution Conviction

Diddy Appeals Four-Year Prison Sentence Over Prostitution Conviction

Lawyers for American hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs have urged a United States appeals court to overturn his prison sentence of more than four years following his conviction on prostitution-related charges.

Combs, 56, was sentenced in October after a high-profile trial that drew widespread attention over allegations of so-called “freak-offs” — sexual encounters involving hired escorts and his former partner Casandra Ventura, along with another unidentified woman.

While a jury acquitted him of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering, he was found guilty on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution.

At a hearing in Manhattan on Thursday, defence lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argued before a three-judge panel that the four-year, two-month sentence was excessive and improperly influenced by evidence tied to charges for which Combs had been acquitted.

“The evidence the judge relied on was related to conduct for which he was not convicted,” Shapiro told the court, insisting that such material should not have been considered during sentencing.

However, prosecutors disagreed, maintaining that elements of the evidence were directly relevant to the convictions. Prosecutor Christy Slavik cited instances where Combs allegedly used recordings to pressure Ventura into continued participation, arguing that these actions were connected to the transportation charges.

The case, described by one of the judges, William Nardini, as “exceptionally difficult,” did not receive an immediate ruling from the court.

Combs, who is also appealing his conviction separately, was not present during the proceedings. He is currently serving his sentence at a low-security federal prison in New Jersey and is expected to be released in spring 2028.

The outcome of the appeal could significantly impact both the length of his sentence and the broader legal interpretation of how acquitted conduct is considered in sentencing.

Diddy Appeals Four-Year Prison Sentence Over Prostitution Conviction