Sean "Diddy" Combs has been granted an expedited appeals schedule by a federal judge just days after his transfer to a New Jersey prison, where the 55-year-old music mogul has been assigned to work in the facility's laundry department. The developments mark the latest turn in Combs' high-profile legal saga, as his defense team seeks to shorten his 50-month sentence on prostitution-related charges.
U.S. Circuit Court Judge Beth Robinson, of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, issued the order Monday approving Combs' request for a fast-tracked appeal. The timeline gives his legal team until December 23 to submit their brief, while the government's response is due February 20. A reply from Combs' attorneys must be filed by March 13, setting the stage for possible oral arguments in April.
The rapper, convicted earlier this year of two counts of interstate transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act, was acquitted of more serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Prosecutors alleged that Combs operated a "criminal enterprise" and coerced women into drug-fueled sexual encounters, which the government labeled "freak offs." Combs pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued in a recent filing that "Sean's appeal will challenge the unfair use of the Mann Act, an infamous statute with a sordid history, to prosecute him for sex with consenting adults." The defense hopes to reduce Combs' sentence or overturn the convictions altogether.
Combs was transferred Thursday to the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix, a low-security men's facility in New Hanover Township, New Jersey, housing about 4,000 inmates. The prison is known for relatively lenient conditions and access to rehabilitation programs. His release date is currently scheduled for May 8, 2028, though early release remains possible with good behavior or program completion.
Attorney Teny Geragos had previously petitioned for the relocation, stating, "In order to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts, we request that the court strongly recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Mr. Combs be placed at FCI Fort Dix."
According to reports from TMZ, Combs has been assigned to the prison's laundry services, where he will wash and dry clothing as part of his daily responsibilities. The assignment contrasts sharply with prosecutors' earlier depiction of the Bad Boy Records founder as reliant on personal staff for even basic tasks.
Combs' friend Charlucci Finney told the Daily Mail that the rapper faced threats while detained at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center before his transfer. "He woke up with a knife to his throat," Finney claimed. "Everything is intimidation. But with Sean, it won't work. Sean is from Harlem." Finney added that Combs has remained composed under pressure, saying he avoids sharing details to prevent alarming his family.
