Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison—After Begging Judge for ‘Mercy’

Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has been sentenced to just over four years in prison—minutes after he broke his silence on his prostitution convictions to apologize to his victims and beg the judge in his case for "mercy."

Diddy, 55, appeared in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday, where he spoke for the first time since his September 2024 arrest, issuing an emotional apology to his victim and former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, while insisting that he has changed his ways.

Before delivering his verdict, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian told the music mogul that he had "irreparably harmed" Ventura and the other woman he was convicted of transporting for prostitution.

"The conduct occurred for over a decade and with tremendous frequency over that time period," the judge said. "Why did it happen that long? Because you had the power and the resources to keep it going. And because you weren’t caught."

In addition to a 50-month prison sentence, the judge imposed a $500,000 fine, which was the maximum he was able to order and was based, he said, on the fact that Diddy has "immense resources, which enabled his crimes."

Diddy arrived at the courtroom shortly after 10 a.m. and, after hearing from both the defense and the prosecution, had the chance to address the judge ahead of his sentencing. He hugged his attorneys upon arrival, then waved to his family and his supporters who had gathered in the court.

"I want to thank you for giving me the chance to finally speak up for myself. One of the hardest things that I’ve had to handle is having to be quiet. Not being able to express how sorry I am for my actions," he said shortly after 4 p.m.

"I’ve been humbled and broken to my core. I hate myself right now. I got stripped down to nothing.

"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 honor for mercy. I beg your honor for mercy.”

One of the rapper's victims, an assistant referred to under the pseudonym of "Mia," was expected to speak in court. However, she changed her mind ahead of the hearing, according to CNN.

Several of Diddy's children spoke to the court ahead of his sentencing, expressing their view that he is a changed man who is more than capable of change.

Diddy's lawyers had also attempted to move Subramanian—the judge overseeing the trial—toward leniency by insisting that their client had shown remorse for his crimes.

However, while the judge conceded that Diddy had apologized for any "hurt" that he had caused, he said that the rapper had failed to express any remorse for his crimes.

Did Diddy's lawyers try to stop his sentencing?

The rapper's sentencing comes just days after Subramian denied Diddy's request to overturn his convictions or grant him a new trial.

Diddy's lawyers had submitted a motion to toss out his convictions on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution or grant him a new trial, and arguments for and against this motion were heard by Subramanian in a Manhattan courtroom last week.

After several days of deliberation, Subramian denied the request, rejecting the defense's argument that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to prove that Diddy was transporting people for the purpose of paying for sex.

According to USA Today, the judge said that the prosecution's evidence was "overwhelming." He also rejected Diddy's attorneys' attempt to restrict the definition of "prostitution."

Diddy has repeatedly denied all charges against him—and was found not guilty of the more serious crimes he was accused of: two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy.

Is Diddy's sentence fair?

Each of Diddy's convictions carried a maximum sentence of 10 years, meaning that he was facing up to 20 years in prison.

Speaking at the sentencing hearing, Subramian initially said that he did not see a reason to deviate from the advisory range of 70 to 87 months—which is between six and seven years—that was laid down in the presentencing report.

However, the prosecution had pushed the judge for an 11-year sentence. Diddy's lawyers insisted that he deserves no more than 14 months behind bars and asked Subramian to take into account the time their client has already spent in jail.

Meanwhile, Ventura had asked the judge to take into account "the many lives that Sean Combs has upended with his abuse and control," according to the New York Times.

Ventura's testimony was a key piece of evidence in the prosecution's case during Diddy's trial, which concluded on July 2, when the jury handed down its verdict—declaring him guilty on two prostitution-related counts, but clearing him of the two more serious charges of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy.

During the sentencing hearing, the prosecution once again drew attention to Diddy's treatment of Ventura, noting that the video of him attacking her in the hotel "never got easier to see," no matter how many times it was played during his trial.

"Imagine how much worse it was behind closed doors," prosecutor Christy Slavik said.

Still, Diddy's children attempted to show that their father is not only remorseful for his crimes, but that he has already shown he is capable of change.

Speaking to the court, the rapper's son Quincy Brown described him as a "changed man," saying: "We’re going to love him unconditionally through his struggles. But in front of you and in front of us is a changed man.

"Our father has learned a major lesson. Week after week, we’ve seen him evolve, something we haven’t seen in 15 years. He’s completely transformed."

Another of his sons, Justin Combs, begged the judge to give his father "a second chance," saying: "I ask that you give my father a second chance, a second chance at life, a second chance to right his wrongs, a second chance to be the man he truly is.

"I can truly sincerely say he’s changed for the better. Your honor, I believe my father still has so much more to give the world and, more importantly, so much more to give his children."

Where is Diddy now?

Diddy has been behind bars in a Brooklyn jail since his September 2024 arrest—having had his initial plea for bail rejected soon after he was taken into custody.

He will now be moved to a federal prison, where he will serve out his sentence.

The rapper offered to post a $50 million bond to secure his release from prison, stating that he would use his Miami mansion, which was valued at $48 million in bail plea, as collateral, as well as a $2 million property owned by his mother.

Diddy also offered to limit his travel to Miami and New York City, and claimed that he would keep his private jet—which he said he was trying to sell—parked in Los Angeles, to limit flight risk.

What has Diddy said about his convictions?

Although the musician pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, he did express remorse for "all of the hurt" that he had caused in a letter sent to Subramian ahead of his sentencing.

According to CNN, the rapper said he was "sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused," before blaming his use of drugs for his crimes.

"I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness," he wrote.

He also apologized for a shocking video in which he was seen physically assaulting Ventura in a hotel hallway, admitting that he "lost his mind" in the moment.

"The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily," he wrote. "I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I’m sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry."

It is the first time that Diddy—who did not testify during his trial—has addressed his crimes, however he is expected to speak in court during his sentencing.

His legal team also released an 11-minute documentary-style video of the rapper ahead of his sentencing, which featured clips taken throughout his career, while also calling attention to the charity work that he has done over the years.

The video included a clip of fellow musician Babyface presenting Diddy with a BET Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, while describing the positive impact the rapper has had on so many others in the industry.

“One thing about great producers is they make you wanna do better and be better about what you do,” Babyface says in the clip. “He made me feel like I could do anything and go anywhere.”

There is also a video of Diddy discussing his career successes and noting that his achievements in the industry meant nothing in the grand scheme of things—conceding that it would be his conduct as a person that would ultimately secure him a place in Heaven.

"If I had to pick which trophy I want, I want the best person trophy," he says in the clip, although it is unclear when it was taken.

"I know in order for me to get into Heaven, I’m not going [to] get in there [like}, ‘Well, come on in Heaven. You had 20 hit records.’ That don’t mean nothing and that’s what this world is for. They going [to] say, ‘Oh, come on in Heaven. You was a nice person.'"

Many of Diddy's family members are expected to attend his sentencing, including his mother, sister, the mothers of his children, and his adult children.

What was the evidence against Diddy?

Diddy, who was indicted in Manhattan in September 2024, had pleaded not guilty to all charges against him—with his lawyers arguing that he had not engaged in any nonconsensual sex acts.

The prosecution also revealed a trove of images taken inside each of Diddy's homes during Homeland Security raids that took place in March, when agents discovered an array of disturbing items, including cases of baby oil, prescription drugs, and AR-15 weapon parts.

They also shared many details about the illicit "freak off" parties that Diddy is accused of holding in both of the abodes—one of which is currently on the market for $61.5 million.

In the indictment against Diddy, authorities accused him of using his "power and prestige" to "abuse, threaten and coerce women ... to fulfill his sexual desires" during these events.

They also claimed that the musician "created a criminal empire" that "engaged in, and attempted to engage in ... sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."

Prosecutors alleged that at the heart of this "criminal empire" were Diddy's "freak off" parties, which the indictment described as "elaborate and produced sex performances" that involved women being coerced into sex and drug abuse. The indictment alleged that Diddy kept video of these events to prevent any of the participants from coming forward with complaints.

"Freak-off activity is the core of this case, and freak-offs are inherently dangerous," prosecutor Emily A. Johnson said during a hearing in September.

Authorities claimed that Diddy held these "freak-offs" in a number of locations, including at his Holmby Hills mansion, his estate on Miami's exclusive Star Island, as well as several hotel rooms. Agents are said to have found more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and several firearms during their raids on his two properties.

In her letter to the judge, Ventura called attention to these events, stating that, while the jury did not find Diddy guilty of the sex-trafficking offenses, she maintains that her participation in the rapper's "freak offs" was the result of his "coercion."

"While the jury did not seem to understand or believe that I engaged in freak-offs because of the force and coercion the defendant used against me, I know that is the truth, and his sentence should reflect the reality of the evidence and my lived experience as a victim," she wrote.

What happens to Diddy's home when he's in prison?

The musician's Holmby Hills home, which he bought for $39 million in 2014, was put on the market just days before his arrest, and the listing has remained active throughout his subsequent trial.

Despite Diddy being found guilty on two counts, the rapper can still proceed with the sale of the home, according to legal experts. However, what becomes of the money from a sale could well be left in the hands of the authorities.

"Generally speaking, he can sell his home, but given the legal action mounting against him, the court will likely have a say in how the proceeds are disbursed," Cara Ameer, an agent with Coldwell Banker in California, previously revealed to Realtor.com®.

However, if a buyer comes forward in the wake of Diddy's conviction, the federal government "can put a lien on the asset" and have a say in where the money goes, Justin Paperny, a crisis manager for White Collar Advice, explained.

Ameer also pointed out that Combs may well end up with sky-high legal costs and may well need the money from the sale of his home to cover them.

"It might be he has to sell his home to pay for his legal costs as well as restitution that is being sought for his victims," she said. "He may end up having to liquidate a lot of his assets if he can’t afford to pay out of pocket. A court may have oversight of where the proceeds from the sale go in that instance."

However, given the stigma around the property, a sale at his desired price might be a tough hill to climb.

If Combs takes the home off the market, he could always rent it out as a "trophy property," Paperny noted, explaining that notable clients of his, with high-end homes, have made their real estate available on Airbnb for as much as $20,000 a night.

He said of the current asking price that Combs "could be asking too much. People might not want the affiliation to him."