Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs are planning to appeal after the music mogul was sentenced Friday to more than four years in prison for transporting people across state lines for sexual encounters, the Associated Press reported on Saturday.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced the rap mogul to four years and two months in prison and fined him $500,000, the maximum allowed. Combs was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male sex workers around the country to engage in drug-fueled sexual encounters over many years and in multiple places. He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.
Why It Matters
The case represents a dramatic fall from grace for the 55-year-old, shattering his carefully cultivated reputation as an affable celebrity entrepreneur, A-list party host, and reality TV star.
The sentencing culminates a public reckoning for Combs, whose reputational free fall began when former girlfriend pop singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura sued him in November of 2023, alleging years of sexual and physical abuse.
The lawsuit was settled the next day for $20 million.
What To Know
The nearly two-month trial in federal court in Manhattan featured harrowing testimony from women who said Combs beat, threatened, sexually assaulted, and blackmailed them. Ventura told jurors that Combs ordered her to have “disgusting” sex with strangers hundreds of times during their decade-long relationship. Jurors saw video of him dragging and beating her in a Los Angeles hotel hallway after one such multiday “freak-off.”
Another woman, identified only as “Jane,” testified she was pressured into sex with male workers during drug-fueled “hotel nights” while Combs watched and sometimes filmed.
Combs was sentenced for violating the federal Mann Act, an anti-prostitution law with a century-old history that makes it illegal to transport someone across state lines for the purpose of prostitution or other illegal sex acts. Defense attorney Jason Driscoll argued Friday the law was misapplied.
Ventura’s lawsuit against Combs settled within hours for $20 million—an amount she disclosed publicly for the first time during the trial. Dozens of other people have since made similar legal claims.
Combs has already served a year in jail, meaning he could be released in approximately three years. There is no chance of parole in the federal system. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of more than 11 years, while Combs’ lawyers wanted him freed immediately, arguing that time behind bars has already forced his remorse and sobriety.
What People Are Saying
Diddy’s lead attorney Ted Geragos told ABC News they were planning to appeal on Friday: “The jury made it very clear in their verdict that they acquitted him of the sex trafficking and the RICO counts. Not guilty means not guilty.”
Diddy’s attorney Alexandra Shapiro told ABC News on Friday: “That was totally inconsistent with the jury verdict. The Judge acted as a 13th juror. The sentence was driven by the conduct the jury rejected. The jury acquitted Mr. Combs of any coercion.”
She later added: “What is the point of more incarceration for a person like Mr. Combs? He really should be on a path to rehabilitation. He should be able to get treatment. He should be able to start giving back in a way that I think he is uniquely positioned to do, and it seems just senseless to keep him in prison for years more.”
Arick Fudali, who represents several women who filed lawsuits against Combs, said he hopes the sentencing encourages other victims to come forward: “I hope the fact that someone as notorious, wealthy, famous as Mr. Combs will be spending years in prison for his crimes will encourage other victims who are suffering in silence to come forward and confront their abuser, no matter how powerful he may appear.”
Cassie Ventura’s attorney, Doug Wigdor, welcomed the sentencing result in a statement to CNN: “While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognizes the impact of the serious offenses he committed.”
He added: “We are confident that with the support of her family and friends, Ms. Ventura will continue healing knowing that her bravery and fortitude have been an inspiration to so many. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice.”
What Happens Next
Diddy’s lawyers plan to appeal the sentencing.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
