Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs is set to be sentenced in New York today, after he was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution earlier this year
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is set to be sentenced today by a federal judge in New York following his conviction earlier this year on prostitution-related charges. The disgraced music producer was convicted following a trial earlier this year.
Before he faces the judge, here is everything you might need to know about the final part of his criminal case, from what time the sentencing is happening to how long he might be facing in prison.
What was he found guilty of?
In July, following a two month trial, a jury found Combs to be not guilty of of the most serious charge, racketeering conspiracy and the sex trafficking of Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura and ‘Jane’, an unnamed woman.
However, Combs was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution relating to Ventura and ‘Jane’. The verdict was delivered after 13 hours of deliberation by the jury. As the verdict came down, Combs was seen kneeling in front of his chair and praying. He then turned to the gallery and clapped.
Later, the judge denied his requests to be released on bail while awaiting sentencing and said Combs demonstrated a “disregard for the rule of law and a propensity for violence”. As such, he has been incarcerated since September 2024. The judge also rejected a motion to overturn the convictions.
When is the sentencing?
The sentencing will happen at 10:00 Eastern Time in New York, which is 15:00 UK time.
How much time could he serve?
The two counts he has been convicted of each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years. The maximum time Combs could be in prison is therefore 20 years, if the judge decides to use the maximum penalty and insisted they be served consecutively rather than concurrently.
Combs’ lawyers have asked for a sentence no longer than 14 months and with the time he has already served, which totals 13 months, to be included. This would see the rapper released before the end of the year. The lawyers said he has been “adequately punished by serving 13 months in the terrible conditions”.
Federal prosecutors, however, have requested at least 135 months, which is 11 years and 3 months, alongside a $500k (£370,000) fine. They said Combs was “unrepentant” and that “his history and characteristics demonstrate years of abuse and violence”.
What did he say in his letter to the judge?
Only hours before the sentencing is supposed to start, Combs sent his own letter to the judge. In it, he admitted to “past wrongs” and apologised for “all of the hurt and pain” he caused.
“First and foremost, I want to apologise and say how sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others by my conduct,” he wrote. “I take full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs.”
Combs added that the past two years since Ventura first filed a civil lawsuit against him were the “hardest” of his life. He also admitted that he has “no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself”.
Combs also addressed CCTV footage from 2016 that showed him attacking Ventura. “The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily.
“I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I’m sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry. The remorse, the sorrow, the regret, the disappointment, the shame.”
He also spoke about ‘Jane’, who was another of his ex girlfriends. “I thought I was providing for Jane concerning her and her child, but after hearing her testimony, I realised that I hurt her,” he wrote. “For this I am deeply sorry. I lost my way … Lost in the drugs and the excess.”
He added that the “old me died in jail” and was “working diligently” to become the “best version” of himself. He asked the judge for mercy.
“Today, I humbly ask you for another chance – another chance to be a better father, another chance to be a better son, another chance to be a better leader in my community, and another chance to live a better life.”
What did Cassie Ventura’s impact statement say?
The prosecution submitted several victim impact statements to the court ahead of sentencing. Ventura’s statement said: “While the jury did not seem to understand or believe that I engaged in freak-offs because of the force and coercion the defendant used against me, I know that is the truth, and his sentence should reflect the reality of the evidence and my lived experience as a victim.
“I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse, at trial. If there is one thing I have learned from this experience, it is that victims and survivors will never be safe. I hope that your decision considers the truths at hand that the jury failed to see.”
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
