Sean 'Diddy' Combs' legal team will be appealing the music mogul's 50-month prison sentence, citing strong critique for the judge presiding over the case.
On Friday (October 3), Southern District of New York Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced Diddy to four years and two months, in addition to ordering a $500,000 fine for two counts of violating the Mann Act. The Bad Boy Entertainment founder will receive credit for the 12 months he's served in jail.
After the sentencing, Diddy's attorneys spoke to reporters outside the courthouse, with lawyer Marc Agnifilo announcing plans for an appeal.
In a video captured by legal reporter Meghann Cuniff, Agnifilo claimed that Judge Subramanian's belief that the sexual encounters were non-consensual was "absolutely inconsistent with the jury's verdict."
"The jury's verdict was resoundingly clear," he continued. "There was no sex trafficking, there was no racketeering, everything was consensual, everything was adult. Which is why he was convicted of only a prostitution offense."
"What we feel happened was the judge acted as a 13th juror, one that we did not choose and that he second-guessed the jury's verdict," Agnifilo claimed.
After a brief commotion among those speaking to the lawyers, Agnifilo said the team was attempting to "find the right facility for Mr. Combs" but were "very serious about pursuing an appeal."
Judge Subramanian explained his decision during the sentencing hearing, saying that while Diddy has "innovated, inspired and lifted up communities," his "history of good works can't wash away the record in this case which showed that you abused the power and control that you had over the lives of women you professed to love dearly."
"You abused them physically, emotionally, and psychologically. And you used that abuse to get your way, especially when it came to freak-offs and hotel nights," the judge continued. "The defense's argument that all of this was unrelated to the offense conduct in this case doesn't hold up."
Diddy apologized before sentencing to his victims, his mother, Janice Combs, and his seven children, including his adopted son, Quincy Brown. A video montage of Diddy's good deeds was also played during the hearing, where he was seen spending time with his children and giving back to the community.