Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced on Friday to greater than 4 years in jail over the hip-hop mogul’s July conviction on prostitution-related expenses.
The 50-month sentence was imposed by US District Decide Arun Subramanian at a listening to in Manhattan federal court docket. Combs, 55, had confronted as much as 20 years behind bars.
He was convicted on two counts of arranging for paid male escorts to journey throughout state traces to participate in drug-fuelled sexual performances — generally often known as “Freak Offs” — with Combs’ girlfriends whereas he recorded video and masturbated.
The jury acquitted him on the extra severe expenses of racketeering and intercourse trafficking, which might have earned him a life sentence.
These expenses hinged on prosecutors’ accusation that Combs used violence and threats to coerce two of his girlfriends — the rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura, and a lady recognized in court docket by the pseudonym Jane — to participate within the encounters.
Combs former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, submitted a letter to the choose asking him to think about “the various lives that Sean Combs has upended together with his abuse and management.” Supply: AP / Lionel Cironneau
Combs pleaded not responsible and is predicted to enchantment his conviction. In an deal with to the court docket earlier than Subramanian imposed the sentence, Combs apologised to Ventura and Jane and stated he had discovered his lesson.
“I do know I am going to by no means put my fingers on one other particular person once more,” stated Combs, who has been behind bars at a Brooklyn jail since his September 2024 arrest.
“I used to be sick. Sick from the medication, I used to be uncontrolled. I wanted assist however I did not get the assistance,” Combs stated.
Combs, the founding father of Unhealthy Boy Data, is credited with elevating hip-hop’s stature in American tradition.
The New York-born entrepreneur is among the most distinguished males within the leisure trade to have confronted trial on intercourse crimes expenses.
Prosecutors urged choose to think about abuse
Combs’ legal professionals acknowledged he had bodily abused his girlfriends, however argued they willingly took half within the sexual performances.
Defence legal professionals say the suitable sentence is 14 months, which might imply Combs can be launched by the tip of the yr after receiving credit score for time served.
Prosecutors are pushing for a sentence of no less than 11-1/4 years.
On the listening to, prosecutor Christy Slavik stated the defence was improperly in search of to painting Combs’ conduct as a “minor consequence of a intercourse, medication, and rock and roll life-style,” and argued the choose ought to contemplate his abuse of his girlfriends.
“To not account for it now can be to let the defendant get away with years of home violence and abuse,” Slavik stated.
Combs’ defence lawyer Brian Metal stated the conduct that led to the trial got here whereas his shopper was in “a ferocious drug habit,” and famous that he had already spent 12 months and 17 days in jail.
“Sean has been punished severely already,” Metal stated.
