Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced To Over Four Years In Prison For Sex Trafficking Convictions

Music mogul Diddy receives 50-month sentence following July conviction on prostitution-related charges.

Hip-hop icon and business mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to four years and two months in federal prison on Friday, marking a dramatic fall from grace for one of the music industry’s most influential figures.

Judge Arun Subramanian handed down the 50-month sentence in Manhattan federal court, following Combs’ conviction in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The sentence departed from prosecutors’ recommendation of 11 years and the defense team’s request for just 14 months.

The Convictions

Combs was found guilty of transporting two of his former girlfriends to have sex with paid male escorts at drug-fueled events he called “Freak Offs” or “hotel nights”. The trial included harrowing testimony from victims and evidence of systematic abuse.

Related: Cassie Ventura Expresses Safety Concerns Ahead Of Diddy’s Sentencing

Judge Subramanian referenced testimony from two former girlfriends, Casandra Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym “Jane,” noting the court saw evidence in text messages, emails, and images of injuries. Most damaging was surveillance video showing Combs violently assaulting Ventura at a hotel in 2016.

Judge’s Stark Assessment

While acknowledging Combs’ achievements, Judge Subramanian did not mince words about the severity of his crimes.

“A history of good works cannot wash away the record in this case, which showed that you abused the power and control you had over the women you professed to love dearly,” the judge stated. “You abused them physically, emotionally and psychologically and you used that abuse to get your way”.

The judge rejected the defense’s characterization of events as “merely intimate consensual experiences,” calling the abuse “subjugation” that drove both victims to contemplate suicide.

Particularly troubling to the court was Combs’ continued criminal behavior even while under federal investigation. The judge noted that Combs assaulted Jane and arranged another “hotel night” in June 2024, after the surveillance video of him assaulting Ventura had become public.

Combs’ Plea for Mercy

In an emotional address to the court, Combs begged for leniency and expressed remorse for his actions.

“I ask your honor for mercy. I beg your honor for mercy,” Combs said, apologizing to both victims by name. Regarding the assault video, he stated: “My actions were disgusting, shameful and sick. I was sick. Sick from the drugs, I was out of control”.

Combs acknowledged losing his businesses, career, and reputation, saying “I’ve been humbled and broken to my core. I hate myself right now”.

Family’s Emotional Appeals

Several of Combs’ children delivered tearful pleas to the judge, asking for a second chance for their father.

His son Justin called him his “superhero,” while daughter Jessie acknowledged her father’s mistakes but emphasized “he is still our dad, and we still need him present in our lives”.

The defense presented a three-hour case for leniency, including a video highlighting Combs’ family life and philanthropic work. Judge Subramanian thanked the children for their courage in addressing the court.

Victims’ Lasting Trauma

While Combs’ supporters filled the courtroom, the victims were notably absent from the proceedings.

In a letter submitted to the court, Ventura expressed fear for her safety and her family’s if Combs is released. She wrote about spending seven years rebuilding herself, both physically recovering from forced drug abuse and mentally processing “a seemingly insurmountable level of trauma”.

Prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the crimes and questioned Combs’ sincerity. “It’s clear that the defendant doesn’t understand or appreciate the gravity of his criminal conduct,” said prosecutor Christy Slavik. “His respect for the law is just lip service”.

What’s Next

Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September 2024 and will receive credit for the 12 months already served. This means he faces approximately three more years behind bars.

Despite the lengthy sentence, Judge Subramanian offered words of encouragement about rehabilitation. “These letters, all those letters that I saw, show that you have a universe of people who love you,” the judge told Combs. “Let them lift you up now, just like you’ve lifted them up for so many years”.

The case marks a stunning reversal of fortune for the 55-year-old entrepreneur who built a multimedia empire spanning music, fashion, and spirits.

Once celebrated as a self-made mogul and cultural icon, Combs now faces years behind bars for exploiting and abusing the women closest to him.

In addition to prison time, Combs must pay a $500,000 fine.