Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain in federal custody after a judge denied his request for bond, ruling that the music mogul failed to prove he is not a danger to the community. The decision was handed down on July 2, 2024, by Judge Arun Subramanian in a Manhattan courtroom. The judge was heavily influenced by a letter from Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who pleaded with the court not to release Combs, expressing her fear that he would retaliate against her. This ruling has amplified the public and media attention on Diddy’s legal saga as his October sentencing approaches.
While Combs was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, he was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, with each charge carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence. The conviction was secured with evidence that the defense had unsuccessfully tried to get thrown out. Under the Bail Reform Act, detention is mandatory for such convictions unless a defendant can demonstrate they are neither a threat nor a flight risk. In a letter submitted by her attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, Cassie stated,
“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.”
This plea, supported by prosecutors, was instrumental in the judge’s decision.
Cassie, who served as a key witness for the prosecution, testified about enduring years of trauma, which included being forced to participate in sex parties and living under constant threats from Combs. Her 2023 lawsuit against him was settled for a reported $20 million, a sum intended to address the suffering she endured. Her testimony was corroborated by a friend, Deonte Nash, who told the court he had witnessed Combs assault Cassie and threaten to ruin her music career or leak compromising videos. These powerful accounts were central to a trial that involved intense scrutiny of witness testimony and underscored Cassie’s fear of retaliation.
Diddy’s legal team had proposed a $1 million bond package, complete with travel restrictions and the surrender of his passport. However, the judge dismissed the offer, citing Combs’s “propensity for violence” and significant flight risk due to his vast wealth and influence. Having already spent nine months in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center following a trial in which he declined to take the stand, Diddy faces a sentencing guideline of 15 to 21 months, although prosecutors are arguing for a harsher sentence of four to five years.
The trial and its fallout have effectively dismantled Diddy’s once-sprawling business empire. His lucrative partnership with Diageo, which managed the Cîroc vodka and DeLeón tequila brands, was terminated for a $200 million payout, ending a deal once valued at $1 billion. Combs also stepped down as chairman of Revolt TV, the media company he co-founded, and has lost at least 18 other brand partnerships. The financial toll has cost him hundreds of millions of dollars and his status as a billionaire.
