Credited from: ABCNEWS
Sean "Diddy" Combs, the prominent music mogul, was sentenced to four years and two months in prison after being convicted on prostitution-related charges, capping a dramatic fall from grace. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian imposed the 50-month sentence during a hearing that featured emotional arguments from both prosecutors and Combs' children, who portrayed him as a changed man since his detention, according to abcnews and bbc.
Combs faced a maximum potential sentence of 20 years for the two counts of transportation for prostitution, but he had been acquitted of more severe charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, in July. Prosecutors had sought a lengthy 11-year term, arguing that Combs' actions represented an abusive pattern and highlighted a need for serious accountability, as detailed by lemonde and latimes.
The defense team argued for a significantly lighter sentence of just 14 months, emphasizing that Combs had been reformed during his more than year-long detention, arguing he has taken accountability for his past actions. In a poignant court address, Combs referred to his prior behavior as "disgusting, shameful and sick," and apologized to both of his former girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and a woman identified as Jane, as reported by channelnewsasia and trtglobal.
Judge Subramanian emphasized the necessity of the sentence to deter future domestic abuse and reiterated that the relationships described were not merely consensual, but rather a form of subjugation and abuse. He encapsulated the reality of the victims' experiences by stating, "You mistreated them... This was subjugation," according to thejakartapost and africanews.
Following the sentencing, Combs' legal team signaled intentions to appeal, arguing that the judge unfairly applied conclusions based on conduct that had not resulted in a conviction during the trial. They expressed concerns that the judge acted as a "13th juror" in delivering a sentence influenced by acquitted charges, as highlighted in statements made by abcnews and scmp.