Sean “Diddy” Combs is currently sharing a unit with convicted fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried at the Metropolitan Detention Center. According to the New York Times, both Diddy and Bankman were assigned to a communal room alongside other inmates. Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His legal team proposed a $50 million bail with 24-hour security to monitor his movements, but this request was denied due to the judge’s concerns regarding potential witness tampering. A representative from the Bureau of Prisons indicated that the agency “does not provide information about conditions of confinement, including housing assignments or internal security practices for any particular incarcerated individual.”
Bankman has been detained in the same facility since 2023, after a judge revoked his bail for violating the terms of his release agreement. Before his trial, his lawyers argued that his limited access to technology hindered his ability to properly prepare for the case. Bankman was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison for orchestrating widespread fraud and misappropriating his clients’ funds for private equity investments and other illicit expenditures. Despite his conviction, Bankman requested to remain in the same facility while pursuing an appeal. During this time, he shared a unit with the former president of Honduras and the ex-secretary of public security of Mexico.
Combs’ lawyer speaks:
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, described the conditions at his facility as “horrific” for an inmate awaiting trial. The Metropolitan Detention Center houses approximately 1,200 inmates and has a long history of being an extremely harsh environment. Agnifilo spoke in court on Tuesday but unexpectedly had positive remarks for the facility, stating, “The dedicated professionals at the M.D.C. are doing everything possible to help him and his lawyers prepare his defense, and I personally thank them.” He continued, “He’s strong, focused, and our meetings are very productive.” Agnifilo added, “I can’t say enough good things about the M.D.C., which has been responsive to our and his needs.”
Diddy’s legal team is pushing for his trial to take place “as soon as humanly possible.” Officials have stated that the case involves a substantial amount of evidence, including numerous witnesses, photographs, videos, and text messages. Agnifilo remarked, “My view is that if the government wants to arrest him and hold him in jail, despite a substantial bail package and his repeated offers to turn himself in, we will need to move forward with unprecedented urgency.” Diddy’s lawyers have also indicated that, for the time being, they have not requested his transfer to another facility.
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