Hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been sentenced to four years and two months in prison after he was found guilty earlier this year on prostitution-related charges
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sentenced to fours years and two months in prison
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs broke down in tears while in court to face his sentencing, as he has been handed 50 months in prison. He has been sentenced today (October 3) by a federal judge in New York City after he was found guilty earlier this year on prostitution-related charges.
Diddy was hit with a 4 year and two months sentence as well as a $500,000 fine, which is the highest the judge could impose. The controversial music producer, who waved to supporters upon arriving in court, was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking in July but found guilty on two charges of transportation of former girlfriends for prostitution.
The guilty verdict was delivered after 13 hours of deliberation by the jury. As the verdict came down, Diddy was seen kneeling in front of his chair and praying. He then turned to the gallery and clapped in front of his children and family who had turned out to to support him.
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During the trial, torrid details emerged about his sex life and ‘freak off parties’ that involved ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. The music mogul was denied bail and has remained in custody until today’s sentencing. Federal prosecutors have argued the disgraced star should serve more than 11 years in prison for his conviction, claiming he is “unrepentant”.
Judge Arun Subramanian addressed Diddy directly before delivering the verdict. He wanted to make it clear he is being sentenced for the offenses of conviction and not the sex trafficking and racketeering charges he was acquitted of.
The judge said he had considered the fact Diddy is a self-made artist and businessman who has “inspired and lifted up communities”. He noted that his work and impact are “celebrated and iconic,” which he said is more impressive considering his childhood and the “violent death” of his dad when he was three.
However, the Judge also told the disgraced rapper that it will be “hard time in prison” away from his family but that he will still “have a life afterwards”.
Diddy has also been fined $500,000 and the judge paid tribute to the star’s former partner Cassie Ventura and “the other brave survivors who came forward”.
He said: “We heard you… these horrible acts were made public and Sean Combs will never be able to wash them away. I can only say your families are proud of you and your children will be proud of you… You weren’t just talking to the jury you were talking to the women who feel powerless – you gave them a voice, you stood up to power, it’s not easy.”
The judge also told Diddy that there is “light at the end of the tunnel” for both him and his family, even though he acknowledged that the Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down hitmaker was in a “dark place” at the moment.
Subramanian said: “This is hard time in prison, away from your family, friends and community, but you will have a life afterward.”
In a direct plea to the judge before his sentencing, Diddy said: “Sometimes no matter who you were before you get so shaken, it just changes your trajectory, it just changes you and it changes you for the better. Sometimes you have to go through life experiences.
“These are not excuses. I can’t change the past but I can change the future. I ask your honour for mercy. I beg your honour for mercy.”
While speaking to the judge, Diddy said: “I ask Your Honour for the chance to be a father again. I ask Your Honour for the chance to be a son again. I ask Your Honour for the chance to be a leader in my community again. I ask Your Honour for a chance to get the help that I desperately need to become a better person because I don’t want to let God down, I don’t want to let my family down.”
He added: “I don’t have nobody to blame but myself. I know I’ll never put my hands on another person again. I know that I’ve learned my lesson. I’m willing to comply with any conditions the court puts upon me. Given a chance, when we talk about the possibility of me sharing my story, it’s not just a scheme to try to get less time – it’s that this story is real, this story is tragic.
“Growing up as a kid, I just wanted to be a shining example of what we could do. I say we, as people of colour, that we could own our own businesses, take care of our own communities, raise our own children, solve our own problems, create our own wealth, take care of our own problems.
“That was my mission. I got lost. I’m not this bad person. I’m sorry to my community for letting y’all down.”
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