Latest news with #RobertShapiro
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
OJ Simpson lawyer reveals Diddy judge's subtle signal that rapper will get a LONG prison sentence: Live updates
The judge in Sean ' Diddy ' Combs trial signaled he will hand out a lengthy sentence when he denied him bail, according to OJ Simpson 's lawyer. Robert Shapiro, the lead defense attorney in Simpson's infamous murder trial, said Diddy would likely face two to three-and-a-half years in prison after being acquitted of sex-trafficking and racketeering but convicted for lesser prostitution offenses. 'Having seen that this judge did not release him on bail, I think a message may be coming that you're going to be spending a lot more time, so no reason to let you come out and come back in,' Shapiro told Fox News Digital. Shapiro noted that in denying Diddy bail, Judge Arun Subramanian mentioned the mogul's 'propensity for violence,' citing the 2016 footage of the rapper assaulting Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway in Los Angeles. 'If the judge looks at that tape in his mind and is reminded about it again… I think there is a real chance that a substantial sentence will be forthcoming,' the attorney said. Shapiro's comments come as Diddy, his lawyers, and prosecutors are expected to meet with Judge Subramanian for a post-trial hearing on Tuesday to discuss a sentencing schedule. Post-trial hearing to focus on sentencing schedule Diddy will be appear in court remotely on Tuesday at 2pmEST for a post-trial hearing on the sentencing schedule. The music mogul, 55, was acquitted of sex-trafficking and racketeering on Wednesday but convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The disgraced mogul's lawyers want less than the 21 to 27 months in prison that they believe the sentencing guidelines recommend. Prosecutors contend that the guidelines, when properly calculated to include Diddy's crimes and violent history, call for at least four to five years in prison. After tentatively setting Diddy's sentencing for October, the judge said he is open to a defense request that it happen as soon as possible, with further discussions expected at a conference Tuesday. Diddy's punishment is Judge Arun Subramanian's decision alone, and the judge will have wide latitude in determining a sentence. While judges often adhere to the federal judiciary's formulaic guidelines meant to prevent disparity in sentences for the same crimes, they are not mandatory. Diddy's lead attorney Marc Agnifilo, who had asked the judge to release him on a $1 million bond, insisted to Subramanian that he had changed dramatically in the last year. But Subramanian was unmoved and denied him bail, citing his 'propensity for violence' against his ex-girlfiends and accusers Cassie Ventura and 'Jane.' The maximum possible sentence for each of the prostitution convictions is 10 years in prison. Diddy has already spent 10 months in jail, since his September arrest. 14:05 Diddy received standing ovation in jail after acquittals Diddy got a standing ovation from fellow inmates when the music mogul returned to jail after winning acquittals on potential life-in-prison charges, providing what his lawyer says might have been the best thing he could do for incarcerated Black men in America. 'They all said: "We never get to see anyone who beats the government,"' attorney Marc Agnifilo told The Associated Press in a weekend interview days after a jury acquitted Combs of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. After federal agents raided Combs' homes in Los Angeles and the Miami area in March 2024, Agnifilo said he told the 'I'll Be Missing You' singer to expect to be arrested on sex trafficking charges. 'I said: "Maybe it's your fate in life to be the guy who wins,"' he recalled during a telephone interview briefly interrupted by a jailhouse call from Combs. 'They need to see that someone can win. I think he took that to heart.' Diddy received 'standing ovation' from fellow inmates after court win Sean 'Diddy' Combs received a 'standing ovation' from fellow inmates when he returned to jail after winning acquittals on charges that carried a life sentence. 13:22 Alternate Diddy juror describes 'tame' Freak Off Videos shown to jury George, who only gave his first name to CNN, said that he understood the verdict and 'probably would have reached the same conclusion' as the jury who declared Diddy not guilty of the most serious charges he faced. George also described the video evidence he saw of the 'freak offs' at the center of the case against Diddy, who in the end was only convicted of lesser prostitution offenses. The video evidence remained sealed throughout the trial, and only the jury and lawyers got to see it in court. Alternate Diddy juror reveals his take on shock verdict The potential juror described the videos of the 'freak offs' at the center of the case against Diddy, who in the end was only convicted of lesser prostitution offenses. Exclusive:The hint Diddy judge gave that rapper still faces VERY long prison sentence The judge who will decide Diddy 's prison sentence gave a hint that he will side with prosecutors and apply the full weight of the law against the music mogul. Former federal prosecutor Jennifer Beidel told the judge's comments suggest he will side with prosecutors, who want Diddy to face four to five years - above the guidelines based on the sentences of other similarly situated defendants. The hint Diddy judge gave that rapper faces VERY long prison sentence The judge who will decide Diddy's prison sentence gave a hint that he will side with prosecutors and apply the full weight of the law against the mogul. 12:09 Diddy's new look after 10 months in jail Diddy has been sporting a new look in the court sketches from his trial - the only glimpse into the federal courtroom, where no cameras are allowed. The music mogul's hair and famous goatee are now mostly white, and he is often wering reading glasses. Diddy has not been photographed since the day of his arrest, and the world will see a different man whenever he is released. All the explosive testimony from inside Diddy courtroom on Daily Mail's podcast The Trial To hear all the explosive testimony from singer Cassie Ventura and the other witnesses in Sean ' Diddy ' Combs' trial, tune in to Daily Mail's hit podcast The Trial. From sworn testimony to video evidence and the rapper's every subtle move, our team of journalists take you inside the courtroom of the world's biggest celebrity case. Daily Mail has been following Diddy's downfall from the very beginning. Join us as we hear from experts involved in the case, and members of the rapper's inside circle. All the explosive testimony from inside Diddy courtroom From sworn testimony to video evidence and the rapper's every subtle move, our team of journalists take you inside the courtroom of the world's biggest celebrity case.
Fox News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Diddy could face 'substantial' prison time after guilty verdict, warns OJ Simpson's lawyer
Despite his partial acquittal on federal charges, Sean "Diddy" Combs remained behind bars as he awaits a decision on the judge's sentencing. Speculation as to how much time the rapper would spend in the slammer circulated after Diddy beat the RICO charge that would have landed him in prison for life. Robert Shapiro, the first member and initial chair of OJ Simpson's defense team, gave a grim prediction regarding Diddy's potential sentence. After being found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, Diddy's judge proposed his sentencing hearing take place on Oct. 3. "I have to look into a crystal ball. And this is going to be a call that only one person is going to make," Shaprio told Fox News Digital. "Many times we will rely on a probation report or a pre-sentence report where they calculate the guidelines." According to Shapiro, judges will typically follow these guidelines, and the former defense attorney estimated the range in Diddy's case would likely come out to be in the 2.5-3.5-year range. "Whether or not he had a criminal history, I don't know. That could raise it," he explained. "But, having said that and having seen that this judge did not release him on bail, I think a message may be coming that you're going to be spending a lot more time, so no reason to let you come out and come back in." WATCH: DIDDY ASSAULTS EX-GIRLFRIEND CASSIE VENTURA IN HOTEL VIDEO Shapiro pointed out that Judge Arun Subramanian brought up the 2016 surveillance video showing Diddy attacking his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura when denying the rapper's bail application. "If the judge looks at that tape in his mind and is reminded about it again… I think there is a real chance that a substantial sentence will be forthcoming." Diddy could spend a maximum of 20 years behind bars, 10 years for each count he was convicted of. However, the prosecution suggested the rapper be kept behind bars somewhere between four and five years. Celebrity lawyer David Chesnoff noted that while the circumstances of Diddy's case would generally lead to a low sentence, Judge Subramanian can actually do a "variance." The criminal defense attorney explained the sentencing guidelines don't take into account other factors the judge is allowed to consider. "The guidelines in this case, based on what he got convicted of and the lack of criminal history, would lead you to think that it could be a rather low sentence," Chesnoff, who has defended Paris Hilton, Buno Mars and more, told Fox News Digital. "And considering the amount of time he's been in, he'd be out quickly, but on the other hand, the judge is allowed to do what's called a variance — when the guidelines don't take into account factors that the judge is allowed to consider." "I got the sense from this judge that he feels that [Diddy is] deserving of punishment, otherwise he wouldn't have kept him in," he added. "So it's hard to speculate. The maximum sentence is 10 and 10. That's very unlikely. But do I think that he'll get somewhere above what the defense wants and lower than what the government wants? I think he'll split the baby." During a press conference following the verdict, his lead counsel, Marc Agnifilo, boasted that the team wasn't going to stop until Diddy walks out a free man to his family. WATCH: DIDDY'S LEGAL TEAM WON'T STOP UNTIL HE WALKS A 'FREE MAN,' RAPPER'S ATTORNEY SAYS "We are not nearly done fighting. We are just getting started," Agnifilo said outside the courthouse Wednesday. "To win this and to defeat the prosecutors from the Southern District of New York takes effort from beginning to end. Today was a major, major step in the right direction. But we fight on and we're going to win, and we're not going to stop until he walks out of prison a free man to his family." Diddy's judge denied the rapper's bail package following his partial acquittal. Judge Subramanian claimed Diddy's violence within his personal relationships, that Combs owned up to, was a contributing factor to his reasoning for keeping the rapper behind bars. According to the federal judge, there would be no way to guarantee the safety of others should the musician be released.
Fox News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Diddy's dream team avoided 'disaster' with one key move, OJ Simpson attorney says
Sean "Diddy" Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges Wednesday following a two-month trial where his legal team argued that the case was about "voluntary adult choices," not a "mean" man running a criminal enterprise. After the verdict was read, people in the courtroom began shouting "dream team" to Diddy's high-profile lawyers, a team headed by Teny Geragos and Marc Agnifilo. Geragos cried as she hugged Diddy's family. The other lawyers include Brian Steel — who recently represented rapper Young Thug — Anna Estevao, Jason Driscoll, Xavier R. Donaldson and Alexandra Shapiro. The "dream team" nickname first made headlines in 1995 for the group of defense lawyers who represented OJ Simpson in his eight-month trial for the alleged murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Robert Shapiro, the first member and initial chair of Simpson's defense team, praised Diddy's legal counsel following the verdict. "The defense team did a terrific job on a case the U.S. Attorney overcharged," Robert Shapiro told Fox News Digital. "An acquittal in Federal Court is highly unusual. Congratulations to Mark and Tenny for building an incredible group of talented lawyers." WATCH: Diddy's legal team won't stop until he walks a 'free man,' rapper's attorney Marc Agnifilo says Johnnie Cochran, Robert Kardashian, Barry Scheck, F. Lee Bailey, Shapiro and Alan Dershowitz comprised the dream team who helped get Simpson acquitted nearly 30 years ago. Professor emeritus Dershowitz admitted Diddy's dream team made the right decision by not letting the Bad Boy Records founder testify in his federal trial for sex crimes. "Ultimately, the smart decision was not putting OJ on the witness stand," he told Fox News Digital. "The smart decision here was not putting Combs on the witness stand. The difference is we want a complete victory. They got a partial victory, but an almost complete victory, so I commend them for excellent work." He added, "I think this was a good day for justice today, and it showed the power of juries to stand up against the federal government. And that's a necessary check on the excesses of prosecutors." Following the verdict, Dershowitz condemned the court's decision to not grant Diddy bail. "Vindictive and wrong," Dershowitz said. "He was convicted of transactional, consensual sex with 2 adults." WATCH: PROFESSOR EMERITUS ALAN DERSHOWITZ DISCUSSES KEY MOVE IN DIDDY TRIAL Geragos, known just as much for her last name as she is for her work in the courtroom, first earned fans last year with social media clips about her rapper client. Teny also gained recognition for her opening remarks during Diddy's federal trial, where she argued that the case was about "voluntary adult choices," which the government was attempting to skew into a narrative to fit a sex trafficking charge. The daughter of criminal defense lawyer Mark Geragos graduated from Loyola Law School Los Angeles in 2016. Her father is known for representing several high-profile clients, including Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson, Jussie Smollett, Colin Kaepernick and, most recently, the Menendez brothers in their successful pursuit of resentencing. She then worked with Brafman & Associates for eight years before becoming a founding partner of Agnifilo Intrater. Geragos serves on the board of directors of the New York Criminal Bar Association and is certified to practice law in New York and California. During opening statements of Diddy's trial, which began on May 5, Teny asked the jury to consider the federal charges, not the choices of an at-times violent man. WATCH: Diddy trial was a 'colossal failure by the prosecution,' attorney Mark Geragos says "Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case," Teny told the court. "This case is about love, jealousy, infidelity and money. This case is about voluntary adult choices made by capable adults and consensual relationships. This case is about those real-life relationships, and the government is trying to turn those relationships into a racketeering case, a prostitution case and a sex trafficking case. It will not work." She noted that Diddy "has a bad temper" and at times gets "so angry or so jealous that he is out of control," but she emphasized that the "Victory" rapper was not charged with "being mean." "He is not charged with being a jerk. He's charged with running a racketeering enterprise," Teny said. "And though there was violence that you are going to hear about, you already have, that violence is not part of any RICO. That violence is not connected to sex trafficking and that violence is not prostitution." Agnifilo is no stranger to high-profile cases as a criminal defense lawyer based in New York. The former assistant district attorney previously worked for Brafman & Associates for more than 15 years before founding his own firm, Agnifilo Intrater, in 2024. He's familiar with high-profile trials and district attorney investigations after representing a number of prominent clients, including "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli and NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere. The Agnifilo household is familiar with high-profile cases, with Marc's wife Karen Friedman Agnifilo leading the defense for alleged health care CEO assassin Luigi Mangione. The jury found Diddy not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He was found guilty on both counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Following the verdict, his defense pushed back after the judge denied the rapper's request for bail. Agnifilo argued that Diddy has done remarkable things in his life. He is a businessman and a serious person, the attorney noted, adding Diddy has seemingly been a model prisoner in a very difficult situation at MDC Brooklyn. According to Agnifilo, he has no issues on his record. "Diddy is a man who has lived up to his obligations," the lawyer said. "Jury gave him a chance at life today." The government said Diddy is very wealthy, brazen, and dangerous. They noted that any chance of jail time is a reason to flee. They accused Diddy of having a short temper, and noted how the rapper has abused people violently. "It was also brazen for him to have drugs and supplies for prostitution waiting while he was arrested," prosecutors argued. A sentencing hearing is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 3. After the trial concluded, Diddy's team spoke at a press conference, with Agnifilo vowing that they wouldn't stop until he walks a "free man."
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Small-Cap Stock with Competitive Advantages and 2 to Turn Down
Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on. But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors. Luckily for you, our mission at StockStory is to help you make money and avoid losses by sorting the winners from the losers. That said, here is one small-cap stock that could amplify your portfolio's returns and two best left ignored. Market Cap: $3.70 billion Formerly known as Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Brunswick (NYSE: BC) is a designer and manufacturer of recreational marine products, including boats, engines, and marine parts. Why Are We Out on BC? Products and services aren't resonating with the market as its revenue declined by 13.8% annually over the last two years Capital intensity will likely increase as its free cash flow margin is anticipated to drop by 2.8 percentage points over the next year Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up At $56.27 per share, Brunswick trades at 12.9x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than BC. Market Cap: $2.01 billion With roots dating back to 2003 and a focus on the stability of multifamily housing, Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR) is a specialized lender that provides financing solutions for multifamily and commercial real estate while also originating and servicing government-backed mortgage loans. Why Should You Dump ABR? Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 4.8% annually over the last two years Sales were less profitable over the last two years as its earnings per share fell by 17.6% annually, worse than its revenue declines Products and services are facing significant credit quality challenges during this cycle as tangible book value per share has declined by 2.3% annually over the last two years Arbor Realty Trust's stock price of $10.30 implies a valuation ratio of 0.9x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ABR in your portfolio, it's free. Market Cap: $1.57 billion Founded by famous lawyer Robert Shapiro, LegalZoom (NASDAQ:LZ) offers online legal services and documentation assistance for individuals and businesses. Why Does LZ Stand Out? Subscription Units have increased by an average of 10.5% annually, giving it the potential for margin-accretive growth if it can develop valuable complementary products and features Share repurchases over the last three years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 289% to outpace its revenue gains Free cash flow margin grew by 13.1 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more chips to play with LegalZoom is trading at $8.70 per share, or 9.1x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our full research report, it's free. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Stock Under $10 to Target This Week and 2 to Question
Investors can certainly boost their returns by concentrating on stocks trading between $1 and $10. However, a disciplined approach is necessary because many of these businesses are speculative and lack the underlying fundamentals to support their prices. Luckily for you, our mission at StockStory is to help you make money and avoid losses by sorting the winners from the losers. That said, here is one stock under $10 with huge potential and two that may have trouble. Share Price: $4.16 Started as a small grocery store in New York City, B&G Foods (NYSE:BGS) is an American packaged foods company with a diverse portfolio of more than 50 brands. Why Are We Out on BGS? Products have few die-hard fans as sales have declined by 3.3% annually over the last three years Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last three years, showing each sale was less profitable High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7× could force the company to raise capital at unfavorable terms if market conditions deteriorate B&G Foods is trading at $4.16 per share, or 5.9x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than BGS. Share Price: $2.29 Founded as a chain of daily newspapers, E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ:SSP) is a diversified media enterprise operating a range of local television stations, national networks, and digital media platforms. Why Do We Steer Clear of SSP? Lackluster 1.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates the company is losing ground to competitors Projected 8.2 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin next year reflects the company's plans to increase its investments to defend its market position Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results E.W. Scripps's stock price of $2.29 implies a valuation ratio of 0.8x forward EV-to-EBITDA. To fully understand why you should be careful with SSP, check out our full research report (it's free). Share Price: $9.55 Founded by famous lawyer Robert Shapiro, LegalZoom (NASDAQ:LZ) offers online legal services and documentation assistance for individuals and businesses. Why Are We Positive On LZ? Subscription Units have increased by an average of 10.5% annually, giving it the potential for margin-accretive growth if it can develop valuable complementary products and features Performance over the past three years was turbocharged by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue Free cash flow margin grew by 13.1 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more chips to play with At $9.55 per share, LegalZoom trades at 9.6x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it's free. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
