Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to a Manhattan courtroom on Friday to be sentenced on two counts of transportation for the needs of prostitution.
Federal prosecutors argue Combs deserves at the least 11 years in jail.
Combs’ legal professionals have requested for a sentence of not more than 14 months. Combs has already spent 12 months on the Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn, so a 14-month sentence would permit his launch in December.
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Oct 3, 11:57 AM
Prosecutors argue ‘public have to be defended’ from Combs’ violence
Prosecutors accused Sean Combs of downplaying his alleged violence, regardless of his legal professionals brazenly conceding throughout trial that he was violent with two of his exes.
“He owned that violence solely insofar because it benefited him,” prosecutor Christy Slavik mentioned.
“The violence on this case was uncontested,” Slavik mentioned. “The proof of what the defendant did was overwhelming.”
Slavik emphasised what she mentioned was “life-altering” violence that Combs’ girlfriends Cassie Ventura and a girl who testified underneath the pseudonym “Jane” testified at trial, in addition to Combs’ allegedly abusive conduct in the direction of his workers.
“He hit her, he kicked her, he threw her into partitions, he stomped on her face, he dragged her by the hair,” Slavik mentioned of Ventura, who she mentioned was “handled like an animal.”
“As soon as is dangerous sufficient,” she mentioned. “Dozens and dozens of occasions is one thing the general public have to be defended from.”
“This isn’t an individual who has accepted accountability,” she mentioned.
Slavik additionally pushed again towards the protection argument that Combs’ relationships with “Jane” and Ventura have been mutually dangerous.
“The courtroom heard Cassie participating in a ‘freak-off’ whereas he was overdosing on medication. What’s mutual about that?” Slavik mentioned. “There’s nothing mutual about that.”
Even when the choose eliminated the alleged violence, Slavik argued {that a} important sentence would nonetheless be justified. Prosecutors argued that probably the most comparable case for Combs’ conduct is a 2023 conviction of a film producer who ran a world prostitution enterprise. The defendant in that case acquired a five-year jail sentence.
“Even prostitution instances that don’t contain violence get important sentences on this district,” she mentioned.
Oct 3, 11:46 AM
Prosecutor urges harsh sentence for Combs, says he did ‘horrible issues’
A federal prosecutor urged Decide Arun Subramanian to impose a harsh sentence to punish Sean Combs not just for transporting male escorts throughout state strains for prostitution but additionally for “staggering” violence.
“The protection has tried to show this right into a minor violation in a intercourse, medication and rock and roll way of life,” the prosecutor, Christy Slavik, mentioned. “It’s clear: This isn’t only a case about ‘freak offs’ or resort nights. It’s not only a case about intercourse. It’s a case about actual victims who suffered actual hurt by the hands of the defendant.”
Slavik mentioned Combs “did horrible issues” to Cassie Ventura and to “Jane” who have been in “abusive” relationships with him.
“This isn’t only a case about transportation for prostitution. It’s a case about transportation for prostitution and violence,” Slavik mentioned.
Slavik forged doubt on Combs’ sincerity when he wrote to the choose that he accepted “accountability and accountability” for his actions, noting a personality letter acquired that mentioned Combs has booked talking engagements in Miami for subsequent week.
“That’s the reverse of demonstrating respect for the legislation,” Slavik mentioned.
Prosecutors have urged the choose to impose a sentence of 11 years in jail. Decide Subramanian famous sentencing tips known as for a sentence between 5 and seven years. The choose retains discretion to range the sentence up or down.
Oct 3, 11:25 AM
Decide says Combs will not be remorseful for prostitution-related conduct
Decide Arun Subramanian mentioned he doesn’t consider Sean Combs is taking full accountability for his prostitution-related conduct.
“Combs has challenged his factual guilt full-throatedly,” Subramanian mentioned. He mentioned the music mogul has not demonstrated regret for the crimes for which he was convicted.
Combs was discovered responsible of transportation to have interaction in prostitution in connection together with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and responsible of transportation to have interaction in prostitution in reference to one other ex-girlfriend, who testified underneath the pseudonym “Jane.”
Subramanian additionally mentioned he’ll contemplate a number of the conduct for which Combs was acquitted when he imposes his sentence.
Combs was discovered not responsible of racketeering conspiracy, probably the most severe cost. He was additionally discovered not responsible of each expenses of intercourse trafficking by power, fraud, or coercion.
“The courtroom can contemplate acquitted conduct for any cause aside from altering the rules vary,” the choose mentioned.
Whereas the acquitted counts can’t be thought of to find out Combs’ attainable sentencing vary, Subramanian mentioned the testimony and proof associated to these counts are related context to display the power Combs used to hold out the prostitution-related crimes.
“There is no such thing as a doubt that this proof counts as coercion,” he added. “There have been threats of bodily hurt on this case.”
Subramanian additionally mentioned that he plans to contemplate as victims on this case the seven escorts who Combs mentioned he paid for leisure. The choose mentioned Combs was clearly the organizer of “freak-offs” and resort nights and paid for the escorts, and must be accountable for the conduct.
“The definition of sufferer is expansive,” he mentioned.
Earlier within the listening to, prosecutors sought to push again on protection legal professionals’ try to have a number of individuals testify about Combs’ character through the sentencing, arguing it distracts from the victims within the case.
“The protection is attempting to drown out the voice of victims in favor of character witnesses,” a prosecutor argued.
Subramanian will permit Combs’ kids and pastor to talk.
Oct 3, 10:43 AM
Combs sentencing listening to begins, ‘Mia’ won’t give a press release
Sean Combs entered the courtroom for his sentencing listening to Friday carrying darkish pants and a light-colored sweater over a white button-down. He shook fingers with a few of his attorneys, hugged others and gestured towards his household crammed into the second and third rows of the gallery.
“Good morning choose,” Combs mentioned when greeted by Decide Arun Subramanian.
Subramanian mentioned he obtain “rather a lot” of supplies forward of time, together with the letter from Combs himself, the video the protection intends to play and an analysis of the 6-week course Combs taught to fellow inmates at MDC-Brooklyn.
There will likely be no sufferer influence statements after a former Combs assistant who testified underneath the pseudonym “Mia” bowed out.
“This morning the federal government discovered ‘Mia’ now not needs to handle the courtroom right here right now,” prosecutor Christy Slavik mentioned, including {that a} “bullying” letter from the protection was a part of her reasoning.
“The tone of the protection’s letter was inappropriate,” Subramanian mentioned. “That shouldn’t be executed once more.”
Along with Combs, two or three of his kids and a pastor intend to talk forward of the imposition of the sentence. Medical doctors who evaluated Combs are ready to talk if crucial, protection legal professional Brian Metal mentioned.
Oct 3, 8:31 AM
Combs to talk in courtroom
Sean Combs plans to talk in courtroom within the “most dignified and respectful trend attainable,” in line with a courtroom submitting from his legal professionals.
In a letter submitted to the choose on Thursday, Combs apologized for his actions and argued he was reformed in jail, turning into sober for the primary time.
“I’ve been placing within the work and dealing diligently to turn into the very best model of myself to make sure that I by no means make the identical errors once more,” Combs wrote.
The letter additionally said: “I need to apologize and say how sincerely sorry I’m for the entire damage and ache that I’ve brought on others by my conduct. I take full accountability and accountability for my previous wrongs.”
Oct 3, 6:39 AM
Combs asks for video to be performed at sentencing
Sean Combs has requested to play a 15-minute video throughout Friday’s sentencing listening to.
The video exhibits Combs taking part in together with his kids, mourning Kim Porter and giving motivational speeches at fundraisers in New York.
It’s a selective compilation of a public determine who has been unceasingly photographed and videotaped at house and in skilled settings and is supposed to assist persuade the choose that Combs deserves imminent launch.
The choose has seen different video that casts Combs within the reddish hue of a “freak off” or underneath the fluorescent hallway lights of a Los Angeles resort punching and kicking Cassie Ventura.
-ABC Information’ Aaron Katersky
Oct 3, 6:23 AM
Prosecutors push for 11 years in jail
Federal prosecutors say Sean Combs was violent, abusive and left victims in concern, so though he was acquitted of intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy expenses, they are saying he nonetheless deserves at the least 11 years in jail.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters – PHOTO: Sean “Diddy” Combs listens as lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argues throughout a listening to over his bid to overturn his conviction on expenses of transportation to have interaction in prostitution, at a courtroom in New York Metropolis, September 25, 2025.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs deserves at the least 11 years in jail, prosecutors say
Prosecutors argued Combs held all the ability over the individuals he transported, notably ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who ended up “bloodied and busied,” as depicted on resort safety digicam video.
Prosecutors mentioned the sentence ought to replicate Combs’ “a long time of unchecked violence” and “a long time of psychological, emotional and bodily injury he has inflicted.”
Oct 3, 6:21 AM
Protection asks for time served
Sean Combs’ protection is arguing for him to be sentenced to time served.
Protection attorneys known as Combs — who has been in custody since September 2024 — “a rare one that has made monumental skilled and private contributions all through his 55 years” and who desires to be together with his household.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters – PHOTO: Sean “Diddy” Combs, subsequent to his lawyer Teny Geragos, reacts after studying he won’t be launched on bail, throughout his intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial in New York Metropolis, New York Metropolis, July 2, 2025.
“He misplaced many family members, together with his father, his greatest good friend, Christopher Wallace — professionally often known as Infamous B.I.G. — in addition to the love of his life and mom of 4 of his kids, Kim Porter, and most lately, his mentor, Andre Harrell,” the submitting mentioned. “These occasions have been devastating, and for many years Mr. Combs struggled with severe substance abuse points, anger and nervousness, and different flaws that he didn’t correctly or professionally deal with till his incarceration final 12 months.”
Oct 3, 6:06 AM
Combs to be sentenced for transportation to have interaction in prostitution
In July, a jury discovered Sean Combs responsible of transportation to have interaction in prostitution (in connection together with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura) and responsible of transportation to have interaction in prostitution (in connection together with his ex-girlfriend who testified underneath the pseudonym “Jane”).
Combs was convicted of transporting them throughout state strains and internationally for extended sexual performances with male escorts often known as “freak-offs.”
The music mogul was discovered not responsible of racketeering conspiracy, probably the most severe cost. He was additionally discovered not responsible of each expenses of intercourse trafficking by power, fraud, or coercion in reference to Ventura and “Jane.”
