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Sean “Diddy” Combs is appearing in a New York City court on Friday to be sentenced after being convicted in July of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Late Friday afternoon, Combs received a substantial sentence. He will be serving 50 months of incarceration, or four years and two months. Judge Arun Subramanian also imposed a $500,000 fine.
Combs has been held in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn, New York, since his arrest in September of last year.
Throughout the day, CNN and other national outlets provided live updates, and Combs’ family was in attendance to support him. He arrived in court, seated between his defense attorneys, Alexandra Shapiro and Brian Steel. His lawyers have requested that they play a 15-minute video of Combs during his sentencing hearing, painting him as a family man with clips of playing with his children and mourning Kim Porter. They’re seeking leniency from the judge.
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There were no victims speaking in court today. However, a few of Combs’ children wish to speak on his behalf.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik said on behalf of the government: “Today is about accountability and justice. Accountability for the defendant, who committed serious federal crimes repeatedly over the course of 15 years. And justice for the public, including for the victims whose lives have been shattered by the defendant’s acts of abuse and exploitation.”
Judge Subramanian believes Combs has not taken full responsibility and has not demonstrated full remorse for his crimes. The acquitted conduct was among other factors considered when sentencing Combs.
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland spoke about the “help and inspiration” Combs has given to others throughout his life.
“Mr. Combs starting his own record label as a Black, young male back then was almost kind of jokeable. But he had the audacity to do it anyway,” Westmoreland said.
“This changed the industry, and it changed the culture, but more importantly, it changed countless individuals’ lives, because what people recognized is that if Mr. Combs could do it, then they could do it too,” she said.
A point of contention came when a prosecutor revealed Combs arranged to do a speaking engagement in Miami next week.
Diddy Addresses Judge
Before his sentencing, Diddy spoke to Judge Subramanian.
“I want to thank you for giving me the chance to finally speak up for myself,” Combs said in his statement to the court. “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.”
“I want to personally apologize again to Cassie Ventura for any harm or hurt that I’ve caused her – emotionally or physically,” he said.
He continued to “personally apologize” to all the victims of domestic violence. “Domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry,” Combs said.
Combs apologized to his seven children, saying they “deserved better.” He says he lost his businesses and his career, but most of all he lost his “self-respect.”
Combs addressed his mother. “You taught me better. You raised me better. I know to whom so much is given, so much is expected. I failed my community,” he said.
He then spoke to his followers and the people who looked up to him.
“Growing up as a kid, I just wanted to be a shining example of what we could do,” Combs said. “I say we, as people of color, that we could own our own businesses, take care of our own communities, raise our own children, solve our own problems, create our own wealth, take care of our own problems. That was my mission. I got lost. I’m not this bad person. I’m sorry to my community for letting y’all down.”
Combs asked the judge for “mercy,” asking to give him another chance to be a father, a son, a chance to get help and a chance to be a better person.
“I don’t have nobody to blame but myself. I know I’ll never put my hands on another person again. I know that I’ve learned my lesson. I’m willing to comply with any conditions the court puts upon me,” Combs said, ending his address that he takes full accountability and responsibility.”
Diddy Pens Letter to Judge
On the eve of his sentencing, Combs wrote a four-page letter to Judge Arun Subramanian pleading for a second chance. Some excerpts are below via CNN.
First and foremost, 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. This has been the hardest 2 years of my life, and I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself. In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them. I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused.
I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core. Jail is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually. Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up. There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you—I choose to live.
I ask you for mercy today, not only for my sake, but for the sake of my children. God blessed me with 7 beautiful children—3 sons and 4 daughters. Their names are Quincy, Justin, Christian, Chance, Jessie, D’lia and the newest addition, a 2 year old daughter, Love. Four of my children lost their mother, Kim Porter, as she tragically passed away in 2018. I am their only parent. I have failed my children as a father. My father was murdered when I was 3 years old so I know first-hand what it is to not have a father. More than anything, I just want the opportunity to return home and be the father that they need and deserve.
I can’t change the past, but I can change the future. I know that God put me here to transform me. Since incarceration, I have gone through a spiritual reset. I’m on a journey that will take time and hard work. I’m proud to say I’m working harder than I ever have before. I’m committed to the journey of remaining a drug free, non-violent and peaceful person. I thank God that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober. God makes no mistakes.
Today, I humbly ask you for another chance—another chance to be a better father, another chance to be a better son, another chance to be a better leader in my community, and another chance to live a better life.
Over the summer, the jury acquitted him of the most serious charges, which were racketeering and sex trafficking charges. The judge has denied him bail twice since the verdict.
