Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to 50 months behind bars and a $500,000 tremendous for his conviction of transporting people for prostitution or different unlawful intercourse acts.
Combs, 55, returned to federal courtroom in the present day in New York Metropolis, the place his authorized crew sparred with federal prosecutors over how a lot jail time he ought to obtain.
U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian handed down the sentence, contemplating all elements, each good and dangerous, equivalent to his self-made music success and work historical past, together with erratic and violent conduct.
“A history of good works can not erase the power and control you had over the women you professed to love dearly,” stated Subramanian.
“You abused them physically, emotionally, and psychologically, and you used that to get your way.”
Proceedings went longer than anticipated, with quite a few people addressing the courtroom, together with Combs himself, his attorneys, a minister, the top of a reentry program, and 6 of his seven kids.
In his courtroom plea, Combs immediately apologized to singer and former longtime accomplice Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and all victims of home violence, referring to his conduct as “disgusting, shameful, and sick.”
“One of the hardest things I’ve had to handle is to be quiet, not able to express how sorry I am for my actions,” stated Combs.
“I don’t have no person in charge however myself.
“I’m not this larger-than-life person. I’m just a human being. … I got lost in excess. I got lost in my ego.”
In opening statements, prosecutors reaffirmed why a big jail sentence for Combs was warranted, noting his “horrible” selections have been made primarily based on “sexual gratification” and never cash.
“Today is about accountability and justice,” stated prosecutor Christy Slavik. “Accountability for the defendant, who committed serious federal crimes repeatedly over the course of 15 years, and justice for the public, including for the victims, whose lives have been shattered.”
In a steady effort by the protection, an 11-minute documentary-style video was performed showcasing Combs as a businessman, philanthropist, and guardian, taking part in together with his kids.
Additional, his authorized crew highlighted earlier trauma in Combs’s life as a catalyst for his actions, claiming that self-punishment in a public vogue ought to suffice and that he needs to be granted freedom to return to his household.
Combs penned a letter to the choose on Thursday, apologizing for his actions and claiming to be a brand new sober man who “made many mistakes” in life and is “no longer running from them.”
“Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up,” he wrote.
“There have been some days I assumed I’d be higher off lifeless.
“The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you—I choose to live.”
In response, prosecutors pointed to an absence of accountability for his violence and crimes, arguing that Combs portrayed himself because the sufferer in his letter.
“Even in his submission last night, his remorse was qualified,” stated Slavik. “This is not a person who has accepted responsibility.”
In a Sept. 30 courtroom submitting, prosecutors initially pushed for greater than 11 years behind bars, whereas attorneys for Combs argued for a sentence of not more than 14 months.
On July 2, a jury discovered Combs responsible on two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution and acquitted on racketeering conspiracy and intercourse trafficking expenses.
The costs stemmed from the federal Mann Act, which criminalizes transporting individuals throughout state strains for the aim of prostitution or different unlawful intercourse acts.
The prostitution counts within the case concerned two former girlfriends, Ventura and a girl who testified underneath the pseudonym “Jane.”
Through the trial, Ventura advised jurors that over the course of their decade-long relationship, Combs ordered her to have intercourse with strangers lots of of instances and that she endured bodily, sexual, and emotional abuse by him.
“Jane” stated she was subjected to violence and was pressured to interact in relations with intercourse staff employed by Combs throughout drug-fueled “hotel nights,” whereas he watched and typically filmed.
Previous to sentencing, Combs was denied bail twice and was being held on the Metropolitan Detention Middle in Brooklyn since his arrest in September 2024.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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