United States v. Combs

Will the Second Circuit affirm Combs' convictions and 50-month sentence in full?

Court: U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Division: Appeals & Post-Conviction

Where the case stands

Expedited appeal argued April 9, 2026. Alexandra Shapiro argued for Combs; AUSA Christy Slavik for the government. Judge Nardini called it "an exceptionally difficult case... a question of first impression, not only for this court, but apparently for any federal court of appeals." Decision reserved.

Background

Music mogul convicted July 2025 on two Mann Act counts (transportation for prostitution) and acquitted of sex trafficking and RICO conspiracy — one of the most-covered celebrity prosecutions in decades. Sentenced Oct. 3, 2025 to 50 months, a $500,000 fine, and 5 years' supervised release.

Charges

Convicted: two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution (Mann Act)
Acquitted: sex trafficking; RICO conspiracy

The arguments

Prosecution/State: The sentence rested on admitted conduct — "the extreme physical violence that took place in the context of these freak offs" — including Combs's own trial concessions of domestic violence, not on acquitted conduct.

Defense: "The jury refused to authorize any punishment for coercive sex or conspiracy... It never authorized a sentence four times the typical sentence" — sentencing on acquitted conduct raises serious constitutional problems; the Mann Act convictions themselves are also challenged.

The record

"Freak offs" trial record. The core trial evidence of arranged sexual encounters underlying the Mann Act counts.
Cassie Ventura hotel video. The widely publicized 2016 hotel assault footage, part of the violence record the government cites.
Defense trial concessions. Combs's counsel's admissions of domestic violence at trial, which the government says the judge properly relied on.

The line-setting read at the time this market opened

AP/Detroit News described the panel as "torn": Nardini questioned how a three-judge panel could overturn circuit precedent that acquittals aren't factual findings — but was also skeptical the government's framing leaves any limit on acquitted-conduct sentencing.

Awaiting decision — The panel's decision on the convictions and on whether the sentence improperly rested on acquitted conduct. The ruling is posted here, and on the board, the moment it's confirmed by two or more independent news organizations.

Take the bench →

Sources

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