Sean “Diddy” Combs has formally rejected a plea deal in a New York court, opting to proceed to trial on serious felony charges including racketeering, human trafficking, and conspiracy to commit prostitution. The decision, confirmed by the rapper and producer to Judge Arun Subramanian, comes just three days before jury selection is set to begin. While details of the rejected offer remain confidential, Combs faces a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts.
Prosecutors allege Combs led a criminal network for years, using violence and intimidation to coerce women into sexual acts at “freak-off parties.” The indictment claims this network systematically abused victims across the U.S. A key witness is expected to be his former partner, singer Cassie Ventura, who previously accused Combs of rape and abuse in a lawsuit settled out of court.
Combs’ defense team plans to argue his lifestyle was a “swinger lifestyle,” which they contend is common and accepted in certain social circles. However, prosecutors have warned of “shocking evidence,” including allegations of “years of physical abuse, drug-fueled sex marathons and multiple forcible rapes.”
Combs has been in custody since his September 2024 arrest, which followed raids on his Los Angeles and Miami villas where weapons and large quantities of lubricant were reportedly found. The trial is anticipated to last eight to ten weeks, with opening statements scheduled for May 12th.
