Convicted mogul claims he is a ‘new version’ of himself, but prosecutors seek 11+ years, calling him ‘unrepentant.’
October 3, 2025: Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs faces a critical sentencing hearing Friday on federal charges of transporting individuals—including his girlfriends and male sex workers—across state lines for sexual encounters, a violation of the Mann Act.
Following his July conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, the 55-year-old artist could be jailed for years, despite being acquitted of the more severe racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.
Federal prosecutors are aggressively seeking a sentence of more than 11 years in prison, citing the lasting trauma and abuse suffered by his victims. His defense team, however, argues that the requested sentence is “wildly out of proportion” and is pushing for his immediate release, stating that the time he has already spent in a Brooklyn federal detention center is punishment enough.
Judge Signals No Imminent Release
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who will determine the sentence, has twice denied bail for Combs since his arrest a year ago, signaling skepticism about the defense’s request. The judge can also legally consider testimony from the nearly two-month trial regarding Combs’ other violent acts, despite the racketeering acquittal, as he weighs the final sentence.
The trial featured graphic and emotional testimony:
- Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend, testified that Combs forced her into “disgusting” sexual acts with strangers hundreds of times. The jury was shown video of Combs dragging and beating her in a hotel hallway after one of these drug-fueled “freak-offs.”
- Another woman, testifying as “Jane,” described being subjected to violence and sexual performances with male sex workers while Combs watched and sometimes filmed.
- Additional witnesses testified about other alleged violence, including an alleged rape by Combs against a former personal assistant, and the rapper Kid Cudi claiming Combs broke into his home.
Battle of the Letters: Remorse vs. Relentless Abuse
The judge has reviewed impassioned letters from both Combs and his accusers.
In a letter to the court, Combs promised he would never commit another crime, claiming, “The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn.”
However, his accusers paint a different picture. Former girlfriend Cassie called Combs a “manipulative abuser” with “no interest in changing or becoming better.” The former personal assistant who alleged rape, testifying as “Mia,” asked the judge to deliver a sentence that accounts for the “ongoing danger” her abuser poses. Mia is expected to address the court at the sentencing hearing.
Combs, who has been in jail since his arrest last year, is expected to address the court, and his defense team plans to present a 15-minute video as part of their plea for immediate release.
