One year afta federal prosecutors reveal sweeping criminal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs and months afta trials wey reveal shocking details of violence and im private life, di convicted music mogul go know im fate on Friday 3 October.
E fit face up to two decades behind bars, but im attorneys dey battle for more lenient sentence wey fit see how dem go free Diddy in few weeks – or acquitted.
For July, jury acquitted am of di most severe charges: racketeering and sex trafficking.
But dem find am guilty of two counts of transportation to engage for prostitution. Each count carry maximum sentence of 10 years for prison.
Prosecutors don ask for minimum of 11 years, but Diddy lawyers don argue say such sentence go dey too dramatic to reach.
“For plain terms, prosecutors want to see say dem define Diddy by di worst-case math, while di defence wan make di judge cut through am and impose sometin wey dey far lighter,” according to Todd Spodek wey be New York attorney wey once represent fake heiress Anna Sorokin.
‘Na like to bargain for anytin’
Federal judges don ultimately decide on final punishment and dem don get flexibility within guidelines – so di defence and prosecution go spend much of Friday to argue for court ova Diddy sentence.
“Na like to bargain for anytin,” Mr Spodek say. “E get benchmark, e get di number for di middle, and e go up and go down.”
Probation office wey dey oversee offenders during and afta incarceration, bin separately recommend five to seven years for prison, according to wetin dey Diddy court filings.
But “ultimately, na di judge go decide,” Mr Spodek say.
Major kwesion wey dey hang ova di sentencing na how much wetin Diddy bin do di victims go enta how New York federal judge Arun Subramanian go tink.
While Diddy go chop sentence on two prostitution charges, prosecutors don remind di judge of im past behavior, wey come out during testimony and include violence, domestic abuse, and illegal drug use.
Dem argue say Diddy dey “unrepentant.”
“Di defendant try to put decade of abuse as simply di function of mutually toxic relationships,” prosecutors write for 29 September filing.
“But notin dey mutual about relationship wia one pesin get to hold all di power and di oda end up wit blood and bruise.”
Im most high-profile victim, Cassandra Ventura, bin submit letter to di judge ahead of sentencing wia she ask for justice and accountability. She say she moved her family away from New York City sake of retaliation.
“As much progress as I don make to recova from im abuse, I remain veri much afraid of wetin e dey capable of and di malice e dey keep towards me sake of say I dey brave to tell di truth,” Ms Ventura write.
Diddy team, howeva don portray am as reformed man wey suppose receive sentence wey no pass more dan 14 months for prison.
Im time for jail while di case play out go count towards dat total, e mean say if di judge agree, Diddy go soon walk free.
For longer sentence, Sean Combs lawyers argue say e go unfairly keep am from im seven children and elderly mother, and prevent am from receiving mental health care.
For court filings, lawyers describe Sean Combs incarceration as “life changing, productive, and testament to im desire to return to im family and community and lead di best life possible.”
Judges fit consider history, character, contributions to society, and previous criminal record during sentencing.
Sean Combs lawyers give examples of im business and di music success as evidence of im contributions. Im team also submit testimonials from family members, and oda detainees for jail wia dem put Diddy.
If Sean Combs receive unfavourable sentence, im legal team fit appeal di judge decision to higher court.
Still dey seek acquittal
Sean Combs lawyers dey make additional bid to free am for di sentencing hearing: as dem dey challenge di use of di anti-prostitution law wey form di basis for di charges and conviction.
Last week, Diddy lawyers ask di judge to consider acquittal or new trial, citing objections ova di Mann Act.
Di 1910 law get controversial history. E originally come as anti-interstate sex law wey include one sweeping immorality clause; for practice, e fit dey applied broadly, to cova interracial marriage and affairs.
For di 1980s, Congress modernised am, and di law now form foundation for federal prostitution and sex trafficking cases. Most recently, prosecutors use am for cases against singer R Kelly, and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Diddy lawyers argue say dem no suppose bring Mann Act-related charges becos di sexual encounter wey Diddy bin engage in dey consensual, and dem believe im conduct no amount to “prostitution.”
Mann Act charge na ” easier case to make for court of law dan trafficking conviction, wey require more elements,” according to Jessica Pliley, historian for di University of Texas and Mann Act sabi pesin.
Prosecutors, like di ones wey dey handle di Combs case, dey put dem togeda. “No be uncommon law,” Professor Pliley say.
But prosecutors don remind di judge of accounts from Ms Ventura and one woman wey dem refer to as Jane Doe.
For filings, dem recall di women testimony about how dem participate for lengthy “freak-off” sessions wit Diddy and male escorts wey e request, even wen e be like say dem force dem and suffer physically from di lengthy encounters.
“Defendants wey perpetrate violations of di Mann Act, wey dey involve for such violence fit face regular significant penalties,” prosecutors write for di sentencing memo.
“Di defendant no go be exception—particularly wen im history and characteristics demonstrate years of abuse and violence.”