KEY POINTS
- Diddy sentenced to 50 months over prostitution charges.
- Jury acquitted him of sex trafficking and racketeering.
- Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit and video evidence played major roles.
Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to 50 months in prison after being found guilty of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. The sentence, delivered Friday by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in New York, comes after a jury earlier this year acquitted Combs of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering.
Diddy sentenced after months of legal battles
The 55-year-old music executive has been a fixture in the entertainment world for decades, but his recent legal troubles have cast a long shadow over his legacy. Prosecutors had asked for an 11-year prison term, arguing that his influence and resources allowed him to exploit others for years. His defense team countered with a request for just 14 months, citing his previous year in custody and presenting him as a reformed man.
Judge Subramanian struck a middle ground. In court, he said the 50-month sentence reflects the gravity of the convictions while recognizing the time Combs had already served. The ruling closes one chapter in a saga that has captivated both the music industry and the public for nearly two years.
Prostitution charges take center stage after acquittal
The case against Combs began with explosive allegations. In November 2023, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, his former girlfriend, filed a lawsuit accusing him of a decade of abuse — from physical assaults to sexual violence. That lawsuit was settled quickly, but federal prosecutors followed up with an indictment in May 2024.
The indictment accused Combs of running a network that involved sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. In July, jurors acquitted him on the most severe charges, including sex trafficking. Still, they found him guilty of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution, a lesser but significant conviction that carried a potential prison sentence.
A key moment in the trial was the presentation of surveillance footage from 2016. The video showed Combs assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. The footage, already circulating online, became a damaging piece of evidence that prosecutors leaned on heavily.
The prostitution charges ultimately became the focal point, with jurors convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Combs had knowingly arranged for such activity.
Victim impact and defense pleas shape sentencing
During the sentencing hearing, Combs’s attorney, Nicole Westmoreland, argued for leniency. She described him as a father of six adult children, a community leader, and someone who had used his platform to support social justice causes. His children also submitted letters, pleading with the court to show mercy and allow him a chance to rebuild his life.
Prosecutors painted a different picture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik described Combs as arrogant and unrepentant, pointing to his plans to line up speaking engagements even before sentencing. “This is a man who thinks he’s above the law,” Slavik told the court.
Ventura also submitted a victim impact statement that prosecutors read aloud. In it, she detailed years of alleged abuse and spoke of ongoing trauma, including nightmares and flashbacks. She urged the judge to remember “the many lives Sean Combs has upended.”
In the end, Judge Subramanian handed down just over four years, a decision that fell between the sharply divided recommendations of prosecutors and the defense.
For Combs, the ruling means he will remain behind bars for several more years. For his accusers, it marks a measure of accountability, though many believe the story of Diddy’s downfall is far from over.
