Diddy sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison: What this means

NEW YORK - A judge sentenced Sean "Diddy" Combs to 50 months in prison for flying his girlfriends and male sex workers around the country to engage in drug-fueled sexual encounters. 

The 50-month sentence equals 4 years and 2 months. Since Combs has served a year in jail already, this sentence means he would be released in about three years. His lawyers wanted him freed immediately and said the time behind bars has already forced his remorse and sobriety. Combs, 55, was also fined half a million dollars. 

SKIP TO: Live updates from the courtroom

Judge Arun Subramanian acknowledged that Diddy is a self-made artist who inspired communities, gave to charity, and showed devotion to his family. 

But he said "a history of good works can’t wash away the record in this case," pointing to evidence that Diddy abused women he claimed to love.

The judge highlighted testimony from Casandra Ventura and another ex-girlfriend known as Jane, saying his abuse drove them to consider ending their lives.

Diddy was convicted in July on two counts of violating the Mann Act, a federal law banning interstate prostitution. Prosecutors said he arranged paid sexual encounters between his girlfriends and male sex workers. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.

Calling the Mann Act convictions "serious offenses that irreparably harmed two women," Subramanian said a substantial sentence is required "to send a message to abusers and victims alike that exploitation and violence against women is met with real accountability." 

What they're saying:

"Why did it happen so long?" Subramanian asked as he handed down the sentence. "Because you had the power and the resources to keep it going, and because you weren’t caught."

According to the Associated Press, since Diddy has already served one year in prison, he will likely serve about another three years.

• MORE: Diddy sentencing timeline: How did he get here
• MORE: Diddy asks for mercy in letter ahead of sentencing: ‘I lost my way’

Diddy sentencing live updates

See live updates from inside and outside the courtroom here.

Diddy apologizes again after sentencing

5 p.m. - Diddy showed no visible change of emotion as he learned his sentence, sitting in his chair and looking straight ahead as the judge spoke.

Diddy says sorry to children, mom

4:28 p.m. - He began to cry as he told her: "I failed you as a son. You taught me better. You raised me better."

Diddy spoke for 12 minutes. 

Diddy says he hates himself

4:25 p.m. - Says he lost his businesses, his career, "I totally destroyed my reputation... but most of all, I lost my self-respect."

Diddy apologizes to Cassie

4:21 p.m. - To Cassie, for any physical or emotional harm he caused her — "I don’t take that lightly," he said.

He blames his drug use, in part, for his behavior. He says he was raised to know better, taught to know better by his mother and his faith.

Diddy calls his behavior ‘sick’

4:14 p.m. - Diddy calls his past behavior "disgusting, shameful" and "sick" while speaking at his sentencing hearing.

Diddy says, "I want to thank you for finally giving me a chance to speak up for myself. 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."

Diddy will address the court after a short break (3:58 p.m.)

3:47 p.m. - Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo updates the schedule:

• He says he’ll take about five more minutes.
• Then, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik will give her rebuttal.
• Then, Combs gets the last word before sentencing. 

Diddy can use his fame for good if freed, defense says

3:05 p.m.: The defense also said Combs’ celebrity could be used to spread an anti-drug, anti-crime message if he’s freed. 

"He can be a spokesperson," Defense Attorney Brian Steel said.

Diddy's lawyers say he has trauma

2:15 p.m. - Defense Attorney Brian Steel noted that Combs’ father was murdered when Combs was three years old, leaving his mother, Janice, to raise him by herself. Combs’ drug addiction, Steel said, "got out of hand," even causing him to "flat line" at times.

"He grew up without a father, his mother working all the time, and he swore that he would be there for his children," Steel continued. "That’s what Sean is fighting for."

Children urge judge to show mercy

1:05 p.m. - Six of Diddy’s seven children spoke in court, including his two-year-old daughter Love. 

The judge thanked them, acknowledging how difficult it was but saying their voices were important to hear. His daughters Chance and D’Lila cried as they pleaded for mercy, with D’Lila saying they feared being left parentless after losing their mother, Kim Porter, in 2018. His sons Christian, Quincy, and Justin echoed that their father has changed in jail, calling him "transformed" and urging the judge to show grace.

Diddy taught a class in jail on business skills, defense says

1:05 p.m. - Inside Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, Diddy’s reputation as a businessman led fellow inmates to seek his advice, prompting him to launch a six-week program called "Free Game with Diddy." His lawyer said he struck a deal that required peace among inmates, calling the class unprecedented at the jail and proof that "Mr. Combs can reach so many more on the outside than he can on the inside."

Diddy's lawyers are beginning their sentencing remarks

12:20 p.m. - Attorney Jason Driscoll argued the Mann Act should not apply to Diddy because the law typically targets profit-driven crimes and Diddy "did not make a single cent" from his conduct.

Prosecutors slam Diddy for planning speaking gig before sentencing

11:40 a.m. - Prosecutors blasted Diddy after a nonprofit revealed he had scheduled teaching and speaking engagements in South Florida starting Monday, apparently anticipating his release. "That is the height of hubris," prosecutor Emil Bove Slavik said, as defense lawyers have yet to respond.

Prosecutor argues that Combs has not owned up to his crimes

11:30 a.m. - Slavik slammed Combs’ letter Thursday night to the judge seeking leniency, saying that he portrayed himself as the victim of his own bad behavior.

"Even in his submission last night, his remorse was qualified," the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors begin their arguments 

11:15 a.m. - "The violence in this case was uncontested," Slavik said, pointing to the defense’s trial admission that he sometimes used physical force. "The conduct here very clearly involved violence."

Diddy’s acquittals don’t erase evidence, judge says 

11:07 a.m. - Judge says that even though Diddy was acquitted of some charges, the verdict does not erase the evidence of violence and coercion. He explained that this conduct is still relevant when deciding Diddy’s sentence.

According to Subramanian, it was Diddy who organized the sex parties, hired the male escorts, and paid for them. 

-Adeja Shivonne, AP News

Among letter-writers supporting Combs, here's who will speak

• The judge confirmed that Combs’ children and a minister will be able to speak in support of the hip-hop impresario. Subramanian is considering whether he’ll also hear from some other people the defense proposed. All of them have written letters to the court.
• The defense wants the court to hear from two doctors who have evaluated and cared for Combs while he’s been in jail.

-AP News

‘Mia’ was meant to be the only accuser to speak Friday

• Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said Mia changed her mind about speaking in court after Combs’ lawyers submitted a letter objecting to Mia’s appearance.
• The letter, the prosecutor said, "can only be described as bullying."
• The judge agreed, concluding that "the tone of the defense’s letter was inappropriate" and advising Combs’ lawyers not to do it again.

-AP News

Witness who testified Combs raped her won’t speak

• A former personal assistant who testified at Combs’ trial that he raped her in 2010 is no longer planning to speak at his sentencing.
• Prosecutors told the judge that the former assistant, who testified under the pseudonym "Mia," has changed her mind about giving a statement in person. She already submitted a lengthy personal statement urging the judge to hold Combs "fully accountable."
• "This letter has been excruciating to write," her victim impact statement said. She wrote that the little girl she once was "is gone. She was buried alive by an abuser, trapped in a world of terror, abuse, humiliation, and coercive control."

Judge Arun Subramanian has taken the bench

• Combs smiled briefly and waved to his family in the gallery before sitting down, putting on a pair of glasses and reading through papers from a large accordion-style folder. "Good morning and good morning to you, Mr. Combs," the judge says. "Good morning, your honor," Combs replies.

-AP News

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has arrived in court for his sentencing

• As he has throughout the case, the hip-hop mogul entered the packed courtroom through a side door, escorted by deputy U.S. marshals.
• Combs was transported to the courthouse Friday morning from the Metropolitan Detention Center, the Brooklyn federal jail where he’s been held since his arrest in September 2024.
• Given permission by the judge to don non-jail clothes, Combs arrived wearing a light-colored sweater over a button-down shirt and dark-colored dress pants. He hugged his lawyers and greeted his family and supporters as he walked to the defense table. As at his trial, Combs’ hair is grayer and whiter than the black mane he’s known for. That’s because he’s not allowed hair dye in jail.

-AP News

Read Diddy's letter to the judge: ‘I lost my way’, ‘I'm sorry' 

How much time does Diddy face? 

The sentencing marks a stark clash between prosecutors and the defense. 

Federal prosecutors are urging Judge Arun Subramanian to impose at least 11 years and three months, calling Diddy a danger who has shown little accountability for his actions.

His lawyers, meanwhile, are asking for no more than 14 months, which would mean his release almost immediately. 

They insist he has already endured enough punishment during his time at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where they say he has faced constant suicide watch, threats from inmates and degrading conditions.

Cassie: ‘I am so scared’

The other side:

"My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality," Cassie wrote. "I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution."

Other women and former employees also pressed the judge to hand down a severe sentence, describing Diddy as dangerous and manipulative.

Could the case be overturned?

Dig deeper:

Late Tuesday, Judge Subramanian rejected Diddy’s attempt to have his conviction thrown out. 

His attorneys argued he was acting as an amateur pornographer, not engaging in prostitution, and that his conviction violated First Amendment rights. 

The judge dismissed that defense, writing "illegal activity can’t be laundered into constitutionally protected activity."

Today’s sentencing will determine whether Diddy is released or transferred to federal prison.

For the hip-hop mogul, it marks the defining moment of a case that has already destroyed his business empire and reputation.

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