Music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs gets over 4 years in prison

NEW YORK – Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced on Oct 3 to more than four years in prison over his conviction on prostitution-related charges, with the judge rebuking the hip-hop mogul for subjecting two former girlfriends to years of abuse.

Combs, 55, was stoic as US District Judge Arun Subramanian announced the 50-month sentence at the end of a day-long hearing in Manhattan federal court.

He could be released in less than three years after receiving credit for the time he has already spent locked up at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn since his Sept 16, 2024, arrest.

Combs had faced a maximum possible sentence of 20 years behind bars over his conviction in July on two counts of arranging for paid male escorts to travel across state lines to take part in drug-fuelled sexual performances with his girlfriends while he recorded video and masturbated.

The jury acquitted him on the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, which could have carried a life sentence.

Those charges hinged on prosecutors’ accusations that Combs used violence and threats to coerce two of his girlfriends – the rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane –

to take part in the performances, sometimes known as “Freak Offs”.

Combs apologises

Despite his acquittal on those charges, Judge Subramanian said a significant sentence was justified given the harm Combs had caused Ms Ventura and Jane.

“The court rejects the defence’s attempt to characterise what happened here as merely intimate, consensual experiences, or just a sex, drugs and rock-and-roll story,” the judge said.

“This was subjugation, and it drove both Ms Ventura and Jane to thoughts of ending their lives.”

Combs had pleaded not guilty.

He will appeal against the sentence, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said after the hearing, arguing that Judge Subramanian “second-guessed the jury’s verdict”.

In addressing the court before the judge imposed the sentence, Combs apologised to Ms Ventura and Jane and said he had learnt his lesson.

“I know I’ll never put my hands on another person again,” said Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, who is credited with elevating hip-hop’s stature in American culture.

The New York-born entrepreneur is one of the most prominent men in the entertainment industry to have faced trial on sex crimes charges.

“While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognises the impact of the serious offences he committed,” Mr Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer for Ms Ventura, said in a statement.

Combs’ children call for leniency

Combs’ lawyers acknowledged that he had physically abused his girlfriends, but argued that they willingly took part in the sexual performances.

Defence lawyers said the appropriate sentence would have been 14 months, while prosecutors had sought a sentence of at least 11¼ years.

At the hearing, prosecutor Christy Slavik said the judge should consider Combs’ abuse of his girlfriends.

“To not account for it now would be to let the defendant get away with years of domestic violence and abuse,” she said.

Before Combs spoke, his children called for leniency for their father, telling Judge Subramanian that he had become a better man in the year since his arrest.

“We aren’t here to excuse any of his mistakes,” Combs’ 18-year-old daughter Jessie Combs said through tears. “But your honour, he is still our dad, and we still need him present in our lives.”

Combs put his head down as his children spoke and had tears in his eyes after their remarks.

Combs’ lawyers also showed the court a video about his background and philanthropy. The video showed him playing with his children, speaking to public school students and running in the New York Marathon to raise money for charity.

Judge Subramanian said prosecutors’ request for a harsh sentence did not take into account mitigating factors, including Combs’ charitable acts.

At the end of the hearing, the judge thanked Ms Ventura and Jane for testifying, and said they could encourage other women to report sexual abuse.

“The number of people who you reached is incalculable,” the judge said. REUTERS