Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to a Manhattan courtroom on Friday to be sentenced on two counts of transportation for the purposes of prostitution.
Federal prosecutors argue Combs deserves at least 11 years in prison.
Combs’ lawyers have asked for a sentence of no more than 14 months. Combs has already spent 12 months at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, so a 14-month sentence would allow his release in December.
Latest Developments
Oct 3, 11:57 AM
Prosecutors argue ‘public must be defended’ from Combs’ violence
Prosecutors accused Sean Combs of downplaying his alleged violence, despite his lawyers openly conceding during trial that he was violent with two of his exes.
“He owned that violence only insofar as it benefited him,” prosecutor Christy Slavik said.
“The violence in this case was uncontested,” Slavik said. “The evidence of what the defendant did was overwhelming.”
Slavik emphasized what she said was “life-altering” violence that Combs’ girlfriends Cassie Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym “Jane” testified at trial, as well as Combs’ allegedly abusive behavior towards his employees.
“He hit her, he kicked her, he threw her into walls, he stomped on her face, he dragged her by the hair,” Slavik said of Ventura, who she said was “treated like an animal.”
“Once is bad enough,” she said. “Dozens and dozens of times is something the public must be defended from.”
“This is not a person who has accepted responsibility,” she said.
Slavik also pushed back against the defense argument that Combs’ relationships with “Jane” and Ventura were mutually harmful.
“The court heard Cassie engaging in a ‘freak-off’ while he was overdosing on drugs. What is mutual about that?” Slavik said. “There is nothing mutual about that.”
Even if the judge removed the alleged violence, Slavik argued that a significant sentence would still be justified. Prosecutors argued that the most comparable case for Combs’ conduct is a 2023 conviction of a movie producer who ran an international prostitution business. The defendant in that case received a five-year prison sentence.
“Even prostitution cases that don’t involve violence get significant sentences in this district,” she said.
Oct 3, 11:46 AM
Prosecutor urges harsh sentence for Combs, says he did ‘horrible things’
A federal prosecutor urged Judge Arun Subramanian to impose a harsh sentence to punish Sean Combs not only for transporting male escorts across state lines for prostitution but also for “staggering” violence.
“The defense has tried to turn this into a minor violation in a sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle,” the prosecutor, Christy Slavik, said. “It’s clear: This isn’t just a case about ‘freak offs’ or hotel nights. It’s not just a case about sex. It’s a case about real victims who suffered real harm at the hands of the defendant.”
Slavik said Combs “did horrible things” to Cassie Ventura and to “Jane” who were in “abusive” relationships with him.
“This is not just a case about transportation for prostitution. It’s a case about transportation for prostitution and violence,” Slavik said.
Slavik cast doubt on Combs’ sincerity when he wrote to the judge that he accepted “responsibility and accountability” for his actions, noting a character letter received that said Combs has booked speaking engagements in Miami for next week.
“That is the opposite of demonstrating respect for the law,” Slavik said.
Prosecutors have urged the judge to impose a sentence of 11 years in prison. Judge Subramanian noted sentencing guidelines called for a sentence between 5 and 7 years. The judge retains discretion to vary the sentence up or down.
Oct 3, 11:25 AM
Judge says Combs is not remorseful for prostitution-related conduct
Judge Arun Subramanian said he does not believe Sean Combs is taking full responsibility for his prostitution-related conduct.
“Combs has challenged his factual guilt full-throatedly,” Subramanian said. He said the music mogul has not demonstrated remorse for the crimes for which he was convicted.
Combs was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution in connection with another ex-girlfriend, who testified under the pseudonym “Jane.”
Subramanian also said he will consider some of the conduct for which Combs was acquitted when he imposes his sentence.
Combs was found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge. He was also found not guilty of both charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
“The court can consider acquitted conduct for any reason other than changing the guidelines range,” the judge said.
While the acquitted counts cannot be considered to determine Combs’ possible sentencing range, Subramanian said the testimony and evidence related to those counts are relevant context to demonstrate the force Combs used to carry out the prostitution-related crimes.
“There is no doubt that this evidence counts as coercion,” he added. “There were threats of bodily harm in this case.”
Subramanian also said that he plans to consider as victims in this case the seven escorts who Combs said he paid for entertainment. The judge said Combs was clearly the organizer of “freak-offs” and hotel nights and paid for the escorts, and should be responsible for the conduct.
“The definition of victim is expansive,” he said.
Earlier in the hearing, prosecutors sought to push back on defense lawyers’ attempt to have multiple people testify about Combs’ character during the sentencing, arguing it distracts from the victims in the case.
“The defense is trying to drown out the voice of victims in favor of character witnesses,” a prosecutor argued.
Subramanian will allow Combs’ children and pastor to speak.
Oct 3, 10:43 AM
Combs sentencing hearing begins, ‘Mia’ will not give a statement
Sean Combs entered the courtroom for his sentencing hearing Friday wearing dark pants and a light-colored sweater over a white button-down. He shook hands with some of his attorneys, hugged others and gestured toward his family crammed into the second and third rows of the gallery.
“Good morning judge,” Combs said when greeted by Judge Arun Subramanian.
Subramanian said he receive “a lot” of materials ahead of time, including the letter from Combs himself, the video the defense intends to play and an evaluation of the 6-week course Combs taught to fellow inmates at MDC-Brooklyn.
There will be no victim impact statements after a former Combs assistant who testified under the pseudonym “Mia” bowed out.
“This morning the government learned ‘Mia’ no longer wishes to address the court here today,” prosecutor Christy Slavik said, adding that a “bullying” letter from the defense was part of her reasoning.
“The tone of the defense’s letter was inappropriate,” Subramanian said. “That should not be done again.”
In addition to Combs, two or three of his children and a pastor intend to speak ahead of the imposition of the sentence. Doctors who evaluated Combs are prepared to speak if necessary, defense attorney Brian Steel said.
Oct 3, 8:31 AM
Combs to speak in court
Sean Combs plans to speak in court in the “most dignified and respectful fashion possible,” according to a court filing from his lawyers.
In a letter submitted to the judge on Thursday, Combs apologized for his actions and argued he was reformed in prison, becoming sober for the first time.
“I have been putting in the work and working diligently to become the best version of myself to ensure that I never make the same mistakes again,” Combs wrote.
The letter also stated: “I want to apologize and say how sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others by my conduct. I take full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs.”
Oct 3, 6:39 AM
Combs asks for video to be played at sentencing
Sean Combs has asked to play a 15-minute video during Friday’s sentencing hearing.
The video shows Combs playing with his children, mourning Kim Porter and giving motivational speeches at fundraisers in New York.
It is a selective compilation of a public figure who has been unceasingly photographed and videotaped at home and in professional settings and is meant to help convince the judge that Combs deserves imminent release.
The judge has seen other video that casts Combs in the reddish hue of a “freak off” or under the fluorescent hallway lights of a Los Angeles hotel punching and kicking Cassie Ventura.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky
Oct 3, 6:23 AM
Prosecutors push for 11 years in prison
Federal prosecutors say Sean Combs was violent, abusive and left victims in fear, so even though he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, they say he still deserves at least 11 years in prison.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters – PHOTO: Sean “Diddy” Combs listens as lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argues during a hearing over his bid to overturn his conviction on charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, at a courtroom in New York City, September 25, 2025.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs deserves at least 11 years in prison, prosecutors say
Prosecutors argued Combs held all the power over the people he transported, particularly ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who ended up “bloodied and busied,” as depicted on hotel security camera video.
Prosecutors said the sentence should reflect Combs’ “decades of unchecked violence” and “decades of psychological, emotional and physical damage he has inflicted.”
Oct 3, 6:21 AM
Defense asks for time served
Sean Combs’ defense is arguing for him to be sentenced to time served.
Defense attorneys called Combs — who has been in custody since September 2024 — “an extraordinary person who has made monumental professional and personal contributions throughout his 55 years” and who wants to be with his family.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters – PHOTO: Sean “Diddy” Combs, next to his lawyer Teny Geragos, reacts after learning he will not be released on bail, during his sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial in New York City, New York City, July 2, 2025.
“He lost many loved ones, including his father, his best friend, Christopher Wallace — professionally known as Notorious B.I.G. — as well as the love of his life and mother of four of his children, Kim Porter, and most recently, his mentor, Andre Harrell,” the filing said. “These events were devastating, and for decades Mr. Combs struggled with serious substance abuse issues, anger and anxiety, and other flaws that he did not properly or professionally address until his incarceration last year.”
Oct 3, 6:06 AM
Combs to be sentenced for transportation to engage in prostitution
In July, a jury found Sean Combs guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura) and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym “Jane”).
Combs was convicted of transporting them across state lines and internationally for prolonged sexual performances with male escorts known as “freak-offs.”
The music mogul was found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge. He was also found not guilty of both charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion in connection with Ventura and “Jane.”
