Criminal lawyer Paul Callan commented on the serious charges that Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing in his sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial. Diddy was arrested in September after a grand jury indicted him following multiple sexual assault lawsuits and a federal investigation. Callan, who is not involved in the case, stated that the charges against Diddy are severe and if convicted, he could spend most of his remaining life behind bars. He also mentioned that federal prosecutors generally obtain guilty pleas or convictions in over 90% of the cases they bring, suggesting that Diddy’s situation is grave.
Diddy was denied bail and remanded to the Metropolitan Detention Center until his trial, which has not yet been scheduled. Callan explained that it is unusual for federal criminal defendants to remain in jail while awaiting trial, as they are usually released on bond. He noted that prosecutors believed Diddy may flee or threaten witnesses if released, which led to the decision to keep him incarcerated. Callan mentioned that appealing the lower court’s decision is possible but unlikely to be successful.
The attorney, who has been practicing law in New York City for three decades, believes that Diddy’s case is likely to move quickly through the court system due to the seriousness of the charges. While a life sentence is theoretically possible for Diddy, Callan deems it highly unlikely since no deaths are involved in the case. However, if convicted, Callan stated that a lengthy jail sentence is almost certain, with a possible range of 10 to 20 years.
Callan mentioned that most defendants facing serious federal charges negotiate a plea deal rather than risk a harsher sentence after trial. He believes that Diddy is likely to do the same, but it will depend on the prosecutors’ willingness to negotiate. So far, they have shown no signs of being lenient due to the strength of their case. Callan also referenced a 2016 video of Diddy allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hotel hallway. The security footage showed Diddy grabbing, shoving, dragging, and kicking Ventura, leading to public scrutiny and Diddy releasing an apology video in May.
Currently, there are no talks of Diddy negotiating a plea deal, but Callan thinks that could change. He mentioned that Diddy will likely have a difficult time explaining his actions in the assault video and that it will impact the negotiation process. Callan emphasized that Diddy is presumed innocent, but the evidence against him appears strong. He reiterated that a lengthy jail sentence is probable if Diddy is convicted, despite the potential for a life sentence. Callan suggested that Diddy’s case may progress quickly through the legal system due to the seriousness of the charges and the lack of deaths involved.
