(UPI) – Sean “Diddy” Combs, facing sex trafficking charges, has turned down a plea deal from federal prosecutors just days before jury selection is set to begin on Monday in New York City.
During a hearing in Manhattan federal court, Combs, aged 55, informed State Judge Arun Subramanian that he declined the plea offer, as reported by NBC News and ABC News.
The charges against him include sex trafficking, assault, and transporting individuals for prostitution. He has pleaded “not guilty” to all these allegations.
His defense attorney, Mark Agnifilo, mentioned that Combs had a discussion about the plea offer with his team but ultimately decided to reject it.
While specifics of the plea deal weren’t disclosed, U.S. Attorney Aide Molen Comey indicated that accepting it would result in a lesser sentence compared to a guilty verdict.
If convicted on all counts, Combs, who has been detained since his September arrest in New York City, could potentially face a life sentence.
Charges of assault and sex trafficking carry significant penalties, with a minimum sentence of 15 years for sex trafficking.
Federal prosecutors anticipate that the trial could span weeks or even months, planning to call as many as 20 witnesses to provide testimony against him. The trial is slated to commence on May 12th.
Combs, a former rapper and music industry mogul, has accused federal prosecutors of arranging what he termed “highly organized sex performances,” referring to them as “freak-offs.”
He stands accused of using his influential position in the music industry to coerce women.
