- Sean “Diddy” Combs receives four-year federal prison sentence after conviction on prostitution-related offenses.
- The judge rejected defense pleas for leniency despite emotional appeals from Combs’ children.
- Prosecutors accused Combs of showing no remorse, urging a sentence exceeding 11 years.
- Combs’ defense cited his addiction and harsh jail conditions in their plea for mercy.
- The music mogul plans to appeal the verdict immediately.
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to four years in federal prison after being found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act, closing one of the most closely watched celebrity trials of the year.
The 55-year-old Bad Boy Records founder appeared in court Friday as U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian handed down the sentence, rejecting his defense team’s request for a reduced 14-month term. Federal prosecutors had sought a punishment exceeding 11 years, citing what they described as Combs’ “refusal to take responsibility.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik condemned Combs’ continued public activity after his conviction, telling the court that “his respect for the law is just lip service.” She described his plan to attend a speaking engagement in Miami as “the height of hubris.”
The prosecution maintained that Combs’ conduct warranted at least 135 months in prison, comparing his case to other high-profile Mann Act convictions.
Combs’ legal team, led by Jason Driscoll and Nicole Westmoreland, argued that the entrepreneur had shown personal growth during his 13 months at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Westmoreland, in tears, said Combs had “taught other inmates business skills in a six-week course” and was an “inspiration” to many.
Attorney Brian Steel painted a grim picture of Combs’ time behind bars, describing frequent assaults, sleepless nights, and unsanitary conditions. He also attributed Combs’ criminal behavior to “untreated trauma” and a “ferocious drug addiction,” claiming the star had been “high every single day” for over two decades following a medical procedure in 2000.
The courtroom grew emotional as Combs’ six children took turns pleading for leniency. His son Christian Combs tearfully called his father “my hero… he’s still my superhero,” while daughters Jessie, Chance, and D’Lila broke down as they spoke of growing up without their late mother, Kim Porter. “We need our father,” Chance said.
Judge Subramanian thanked the children for their courage, acknowledging the difficulty of their testimony.
On the eve of sentencing, Combs submitted a personal letter to the court apologizing for “the hurt and pain that I have caused others” and pledging to “never commit a crime again.” In contrast, his former partner and star witness Casandra “Cassie” Ventura wrote to the judge that she still suffers nightmares from her past with Combs, referencing the widely publicized hotel assault video shown during the trial.
The sentencing followed a two-month federal trial in which Combs faced charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He was acquitted of both major counts, avoiding a potential life sentence, but convicted on two prostitution-related charges.
More than 30 witnesses testified, alleging that Combs coerced women into drug-fueled events involving male escorts flown across state lines. Prosecutors portrayed him as the leader of a violent criminal enterprise, while the defense countered that his relationships were “toxic but consensual.”
Following the July verdict, Combs’ legal team filed multiple motions for acquittal. Despite his partial conviction, the defense called it a “great victory.”
Combs, who plans to appeal immediately, mouthed “thank you” to the jurors after the verdict was read.
The sentencing marks a pivotal moment in the downfall of one of the most powerful figures in hip-hop. Combs’ lawyers are expected to challenge both the conviction and length of the sentence in the coming weeks.
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