Music Mogul Receives Prison Time, Fine, and Supervised Release After Conviction on Lesser Charges
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the iconic music producer and entrepreneur, was sentenced Friday to 50 months in federal prison, fined $500,000, and ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his conviction on two counts of transporting former girlfriends for prostitution.
Combs, who has been in custody since September 2024, will receive credit for more than a year already served. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who presided over the emotionally charged hearing at the Manhattan courthouse.
Federal prosecutors had requested a sentence of more than 11 years, citing the severity and impact of Combs’s actions. Defense attorneys, meanwhile, argued for a 14-month term, which would have equaled time served. The jury, in a verdict delivered on July 2, acquitted Combs of racketeering and sex trafficking charges but found him guilty on the lesser counts.
Before the sentence was announced, Combs addressed the court, expressing remorse for what he described as his “sick” actions and begging the judge for leniency. As the sentence was read, Combs showed little emotion, looking at Judge Subramanian and then down at the table. He shook his head as the judge referenced the impact of his actions on Cassie Ventura and on children involved in the case.
After the hearing, Combs turned toward his family, tapped his heart, and told his children and mother, “I love you, I’m sorry.” He then reassured them, saying, “I’ll be OK,” before leaving the courtroom with U.S. marshals.
Outside the courthouse, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo indicated that Combs’s legal team plans to appeal. “We have a strong basis to appeal the judge’s sentence, which we believe is unconstitutional,” Agnifilo said, criticizing Judge Subramanian’s repeated use of the term “coercion” during sentencing, despite the jury’s finding of no coercion. “We think a jury’s verdict should mean more,” he added.
On the other side, attorney Gloria Allred, who represents several alleged victims of Combs, praised Judge Subramanian as “very thoughtful” and stated, “Combs has to pay the price for what he did.” She noted that her clients were relieved, given their concerns that Combs might have been released by year’s end. “I think they’ll be happy he’ll be in prison for a number of years,” Allred said.
Combs’s attorneys are preparing an appeal, contending that the sentence was not consistent with the jury’s findings. Meanwhile, the music mogul faces a significant period behind bars, as the court-ordered penalties take effect. The case has drawn national attention, underscoring the complex legal issues and high-profile personalities involved.
