Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced Friday to 4 years and two months in jail for transporting folks throughout state traces for sexual encounters, capping a sordid federal case that featured harrowing testimony and resulted in a forceful reckoning for probably the most widespread figures in hip-hop.
Combs, 55, was additionally fined half 1,000,000 {dollars}. Since Combs has served a 12 months in jail already, this sentence means he could be launched in about three years. His attorneys wished him freed instantly and mentioned the time behind bars has already compelled his regret and sobriety.
He was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male intercourse employees across the nation to interact in drug-fueled sexual encounters, a observe that occurred over a few years and in several areas. Nonetheless, he was acquitted of intercourse trafficking and racketeering prices that might have put him behind bars for all times.
“Why did it occur so lengthy?” U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian requested as he handed down the sentence. “Since you had the ability and the sources to maintain it going, and since you weren’t caught.”
Combs confirmed no seen change of emotion as he realized his sentence, sitting in his chair and looking out straight forward because the choose spoke. He remained subdued afterward and appeared dejected, with not one of the enthusiasm and smiles that accompanied his interactions with attorneys and his household earlier within the day. He mentioned, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” to his household proper earlier than leaving the courtroom.
In a remaining speech earlier than sentencing, Combs made a plea for leniency.
“I ask your honor for an opportunity to be a father once more,” Combs mentioned, “a son once more … a pacesetter in my group once more … for an opportunity to get the assistance that I desperately should be a greater particular person.” He apologized to the folks he damage bodily and mentally together with his “disgusting, shameful” actions, and mentioned the home violence was a burden he would carry for the remainder of his life.
Earlier, Combs wept as his protection attorneys performed a video in court docket portraying his household life, profession and philanthropy.
His practically two-month trial in a federal court docket in Manhattan featured testimony from ladies who mentioned Combs beat, threatened, sexually assaulted and blackmailed them. Prosecutor Christy Slavik informed the choose that sparing Combs critical jail time would excuse years of violence.
“It’s a case a couple of man who did horrible issues to actual folks to fulfill his personal sexual gratification,” she mentioned. “He didn’t want the cash. His forex was management.”
Combs was convicted underneath the Mann Act, which bans transporting folks throughout state traces for prostitution. Protection legal professional Jason Driscoll argued the legislation was misapplied.
Throughout testimony on the trial, former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura informed jurors that Combs ordered her to have “disgusting” intercourse with strangers tons of of instances throughout their decade-long relationship. Jurors noticed video of him dragging and beating her in a Los Angeles resort hallway after one such multiday “freak-off.
“Whereas nothing can undo the trauma brought on by Combs,” Cassie’s attorneys, Douglas Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, mentioned in an announcement, “the sentence imposed at the moment acknowledges the influence of the intense offenses he dedicated.”
One other lady, recognized as “Jane,” testified she was pressured into intercourse with male employees throughout drug-fueled “resort nights” whereas Combs watched and generally filmed.
The one accuser scheduled to talk Friday, a former assistant generally known as “Mia,” withdrew after protection objections. She has accused Combs of raping her in 2010 and requested the choose for a sentence that displays “the continued hazard my abuser poses.”
Combs’ daughters Probability and D’Lila Combs cried as they spoke in court docket Friday, with D’Lila saying she feared shedding her father after the loss of life of their mom, Kim Porter, in 2018. Six of Combs’ seven kids addressed the choose.
“Please, your honor, please,” D’Lila mentioned via tears, “give our household the prospect to heal collectively, to rebuild, to alter, to maneuver ahead, not as a headline, however as human beings.”
Exterior the courthouse, journalists and onlookers swarmed, echoing scenes from Combs’ trial.
Sade Bess, a Combs fan from Brooklyn, left the court docket’s overflow remark room wanting each unhappy and relieved.
“It’s devastating to see a pioneer of the Black group’s legacy practically diminished,” she mentioned. “However the choose confirmed mercy by giving him a second likelihood, whereas nonetheless honoring the victims.”
