Sean “Diddy” Combs handed 50-month federal prison term after prostitution convictions
A Manhattan federal court on Friday ordered music executive Sean “Diddy” Combs to serve 50 months behind bars after a jury earlier this year found him guilty on two counts linked to transporting people to perform in drug-fueled sex acts.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian also imposed five years of supervised release and fined Combs $500,000.
The sentence came after a daylong mitigation hearing in which witnesses for both sides described the toll the case had taken. Prosecutors had urged a term exceeding 11 years, arguing the conduct was serious and harmed victims; the defense sought a much shorter punishment, asking the court to credit the roughly year Combs has already spent in custody and to follow a more lenient recommendation.
Combs, 55, had been convicted in July on counts alleging he arranged for paid escorts to cross state lines for drug-fueled sexual performances that were sometimes recorded.
At the same trial, he was cleared of the more severe racketeering and sex-trafficking charges. Key testimony included accounts from two women who described coercion and abuse, including singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.
In a letter and remarks to the court, Combs expressed remorse and described efforts at rehabilitation while incarcerated, including participation in therapy and educational programs.
Family members and supporters urged leniency, while some of the victims urged the judge to impose a substantial sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offences.
The judge said he weighed both the gravity of the crimes and the mitigating evidence presented — including the defendant’s conduct in custody and statements about addiction and rehabilitation — before settling on the 50-month term.
Credit will be applied for the time Combs has already served since his arrest in September 2024.
The ruling marks a dramatic fall for the entertainment executive, who built a global music and business empire over decades.
Dozens of civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct remain pending against him, and legal observers say the federal sentence does not preclude further civil action.
Combs showed a little observable reaction when the sentence was read in court. His legal team has signalled it to examine options following the ruling.
Meanwhile, victims’ advocates said the decision underscores the criminal justice system’s ability to hold powerful figures accountable, even as debates continue over appropriate punishment and rehabilitation.
