Earlier today, Oct. 3, 2025, Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced in the federal government’s RICO case against the music mogul. Following a lengthy hearing, the 55-year-old mogul was sentenced to 50 months in prison on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
No victims spoke in court, though six of his children defended their father, portraying him as a reformed man. His son Christian called Combs his hero, saying his father had taught him the importance of respecting women.
Combs took the stand for the first time during this trail and showed remorse. He said worse than losing his businesses and career, he lost his self-respect. Combs apologized to his children and his mother and admitted to being "sick from the drugs." Combs also extended apologies to former girlfriend Cassie and 'Jane', who testified against him. The former, who he dated for over a decade, was the strongest part of the prosecution's case.
Since his guilty verdict in July, Combs and his legal team had petitioned for bail twice, both requests denied. Late on Oct. 2, Combs and his attorneys submitted a letter and a video to the court, expressing his remorse and highlighting the positive impact he claims to have had on others, in hopes of persuading Judge Arun Subramanian to reduce his sentence.
In his letter, Combs wrote: “I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn.”
Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ ex who testified about his abuse and the alleged “freak offs” he orchestrated, also submitted a letter prior to sentencing. She stated that the trial had reaffirmed that “victims and survivors will never be safe,” and criticized Combs’ claims of reform, writing: “His defense attorneys claim he is a changed man, and he wants to mentor abusers. I know firsthand what real mentorship means, and this disgusts me; he is not being truthful. Who he was to me—the manipulator, the aggressor, the abuser, the trafficker—is who he is as a human.”
Judge Subramanian said that the case warranted a substantial sentence "to send a message to abusers and victims alike that exploitation and violence against women is met with real accountability."
In July the producer was acquitted on the more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges. He was, however, denied bond.
Combs has escaped substantial jail time for much of his career. His Heavy D and Puff Daddy Celebrity Basketball Game in 1991 was held at CUNY's Nat Holman Gymnasium. The charity even was oversold and resulted in the stampede and death of nine partygoers; 29 people were injured.
Combs was charged with illegal gun possession and bribery stemming from a 1999 shooting at Club New York. He was found not guilty along with his bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones. His artist Shyne was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail (He served eight.). The victim from that night has consistently said that she was shot by Combs that night.
It is expected that Combs' legal team will appeal the decision.