A federal appeals court panel deliberated Thursday on whether the nearly four-year prison sentence handed to Sean “Diddy” Combs for his involvement in prostitution-related offenses was unduly severe. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges in Manhattan refrained from an immediate decision following a lengthy two-hour hearing.
Judge William J. Nardini described the case as particularly challenging, raising novel issues not only for their court but for federal courts nationwide. Throughout the proceedings, concerns were raised about potential judicial errors in considering acquitted charges when sentencing Combs, leading to his lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, arguing that the imposed prison term was unprecedented for similar convictions and criminal histories.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik countered Shapiro’s assertion, contending that Combs’ four-year, two-month sentence was actually below federal sentencing guidelines and aligned with typical outcomes in the 2nd Circuit for comparable convictions.
Combs, currently incarcerated in a federal facility in New Jersey, is contesting his conviction and the length of his imprisonment. While convicted under the Mann Act for interstate prostitution transportation, he was cleared of more severe sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have resulted in a life sentence.
During sentencing last October, Judge Arun Subramanian emphasized that the court considered only the offenses Combs was convicted of, not those he was acquitted of, though the nature of the offense and the defendant’s characteristics were taken into account as mandated by law.
Combs, 56, has been in custody since his arrest in September 2024 and is slated for release by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in April 2028. His legal team seeks a reversal of the conviction or a reduced sentence upon review.
Although Combs’ attorneys extensively argued for the conviction’s reversal on First Amendment grounds related to consensual sexual activities, the court did not address this aspect during the recent hearing. Instead, the focus was on contentions that evidence of fraud and coercion, rejected by the jury in the serious charges, was wrongly considered by Subramanian during sentencing.
Combs’ trial last year laid bare his private life, revealing disturbing details of violence, drug use, and sexual activities described as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights” by witnesses. While Combs did not testify, his defense team acknowledged his potential for violence but argued against federalizing his personal life.
Photo caption: A courtroom sketch depicts Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs with his legal representation during a sentencing hearing in New York City on October 3, 2025, following his conviction for facilitating drug-influenced sexual acts by transporting prostitutes.