Sean Combs Sentenced to Over 4 Years on Prostitution Charges (2)

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to 50 months Friday on prostitution-related charges for transporting escorts across state lines to his “freak-off” sex parties.

Manhattan federal Judge Arun Subramanian handed down the sentence, which was far less than the 11 years the government had sought but more than the 14 months Combs said he deserved.

Combs has already served about 13 months since being jailed in September of last year. He was acquitted in July on more serious charges of racketeering and trafficking, which carried potential life sentences.

“You were no ‘john,’” Subramanian told Combs at the sentencing hearing. Combs had argued he was an average buyer of adult escorts and shouldn’t be treated more harshly. Instead, the judge described Combs as someone who repeatedly abused women and coerced them into the sex parties.

Combs kept his head down after hearing the sentence, his eyes downcast.

During a tearful plea to the judge before the sentence, Combs apologized to his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who had testified against him, and to his family.

“I know I failed my community,” he said. “I got lost. I’m not this bad person.”

Choking up, he added, “To my mother, I’m sorry. She taught me better.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs

Photographer: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The sentencing caps a dramatic period for Combs, whose career as a top business and music star was upended by federal charges that he’d run a criminal scheme and coerced women into marathon, drug-fueled sex parties.

Combs beat the worst of the charges in July after a two-month trial in Manhattan federal court that included testimony against him from his ex-girlfriend, singer Ventura, and a onetime rap rival, Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi.

The allegations failed to persuade a 12-person jury that Combs was guilty of racketeering—effectively, leading a mafia-like organization—or sex trafficking, in a significant blow to federal prosecutors.

But Combs was convicted under the federal Mann Act of transporting people across state lines to participate in the parties.

Acquitted Conduct

Subramanian rejected Combs’ argument that none of the alleged conduct stemming from the failed trafficking and racketeering cases should be considered in determining a sentence on the prostitution charges.

The judge said conduct that overlapped among the cases could be considered in the sentence, as long as the overlapping conduct was relevant to the convicted crime.

Subramanian also said he could take allegations of abuse into consideration when weighing Combs’ character, even if they didn’t rise to the level of a racketeering or trafficking conviction.

The judge also appeared unpersuaded that Combs was sufficiently remorseful. “He has not expressed remorse for actually transporting people for the purpose of prostitution,” the judge said, saying Combs and his legal team have persistently minimized the verdict.

Before the sentence was read, throughout the judge’s explanation of his thinking, Combs’ attorneys appeared distressed and stated they were preserving objections for future proceedings. Attorneys Brian Steel and Alexandra Shapiro brought their hands to their faces several times and whispered to Combs, who sat in between them.

Shapiro told the judge that considering the acquitted conduct raises due process problems.

‘Justice for the Public’

Before Subramanian gave the sentence, prosecutor Christy Slavik said a sentence of 11 years or more would provide “justice for the public, including for the victims, whose lives have been shattered by abuse and exploitation.”

“The defense has tried to turn this into a minor consequence of a sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll lifestyle,” Slavik said. “This is a gross mischaracterization of the conduct.”

Slavik said that not accounting in the sentence for Combs’ abuse of women at his “freak-offs” would be letting “him get away with years of domestic violence.”

“He doesn’t fully grapple with how his actions got him here,” Slavik said. “His respect for the rule of law is lip service.”

Combs has already booked a “speaking engagement” in Miami for next week in anticipation of a light sentence, the prosecutor said. “The height of hubris.”

“You can’t trust his words,” Slavik added, saying he’s modeled “a complete lack of accountability.”

Combs attorney Xavier Donaldson said in remarks to the judge that the Miami event was a “teaching engagement” to help formerly incarcerated people. It was intended to show the court how Combs would spend his time if released, Donaldson said.

‘Win’ for Combs

In his remarks to Combs, Subramanian expressed sympathy for Ventura, and another woman who’d alleged abuse at the trial under the pseudonym Jane.

“We heard you,” the judge said. “I know your families are proud of you. I’m proud of you. You stood up to power.”

To Combs, the judge said: “You will never wash this away.”

But the sentence was far lighter than what Combs had initially faced at the start of trial.

Four years is a “a huge win for Diddy,” said Seth J. Zuckerman, a former Brooklyn assistant district attorney and now a criminal defense lawyer, who isn’t involved in the Combs case.

Still, Combs’ team will probably appeal, arguing the jury verdict was tainted by the allegations of violent and salacious conduct that ended in acquittals, Zuckerman added.

“He probably wishes he was getting out,” Zuckerman added. “But 13 months ago he was facing a RICO conspiracy and life in prison.”

The case is United States v. Combs, S.D.N.Y., sentence 10/3/25.