American rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced today to 50 months in federal prison, equivalent to four years and two months, following his conviction on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian also imposed a $500,000 fine, the maximum allowed under the law, and five years of supervised release upon Combs’ eventual release.
The sentencing took place in a Manhattan federal courtroom, marking the culmination of a high-profile trial that began earlier this year. Combs, 55, was acquitted in July of more serious charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which could have resulted in a life sentence. However, the jury found him guilty on the lesser Mann Act violations, stemming from allegations that he arranged travel for his former girlfriends, including singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another woman identified as “Jane,” to engage in commercial sex acts with hired male escorts during events prosecutors described as “freak-offs.”
During the hearing, Judge Subramanian emphasized the severity of the offenses, stating they were “serious offenses that irreparably harmed two women” and rejecting the notion that Combs was merely a casual participant in prostitution. “You were no john,” the judge remarked, while expressing doubts about Combs’ remorse given evidence of continued abusive behavior even after his arrest. Combs, who has been in custody since his September 2024 arrest, will receive credit for the over 12 months already served, potentially reducing his remaining time behind bars.
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of more than 11 years, arguing that Combs orchestrated the interstate transport as part of a pattern of exploitation and violence. Defense attorneys, however, pushed for just 14 months—effectively time served—highlighting Combs’ contributions to music, business, and Black culture, as well as his sobriety and personal growth while incarcerated. In a tearful address to the court, Combs apologized to his victims, children, and domestic violence survivors, describing himself as “humbled and broken to my core” and acknowledging his mistakes.
The case drew widespread attention, with emotional testimony from witnesses detailing coerced sexual encounters and physical abuse. Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records and a key figure in elevating hip-hop’s cultural prominence, pleaded not guilty throughout the proceedings and is expected to appeal the conviction. Outside the courthouse, crowds gathered amid heightened security, reflecting the public’s intense interest in the outcome.
This sentencing underscores ongoing efforts to hold high-profile individuals accountable for crimes involving exploitation, sending what the judge called “a message to abusers and victims alike that exploitation and violence against women is met with real accountability.”