Sean Combs (right) listens as his children share impact statements during his sentencing hearing in New York. He was handed a 50-month prison sentence.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
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Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
On Friday, a federal court sentenced Sean Combs, the 55-year-old music industry titan, to 50 months behind bars. Combs was found guilty in July on two counts related to transporting individuals for prostitution but was cleared of the more severe accusations involving sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Following a full day of proceedings, during which Combs spoke directly to the judge for the first time in the trial, Judge Arun Subramanian emphasized the necessity of a firm sentence. He stated that the punishment must serve as a clear warning to both perpetrators and victims that exploitation and violence against women will be met with stringent consequences.
The judge’s ruling came after considering arguments from both the prosecution and defense. Combs’ legal team advocated for a sentence not exceeding 14 months, which, accounting for time already served, would have allowed his release by year’s end. Conversely, federal prosecutors pushed for a much harsher penalty, recommending a prison term exceeding 11 years.
Since his arrest last September, Combs has been detained in a Brooklyn correctional facility. The sentencing marked the conclusion of an intense eight-week trial characterized by emotional testimonies, appearances from high-profile figures, and a courtroom filled with Combs’ supporters, social media personalities, and journalists. Prosecutors spent six weeks laying out a complex case alleging that Combs managed a criminal enterprise that facilitated and concealed sexual offenses over many years. Central to their case were testimonies from singer Cassie Ventura and a woman identified only as “Jane,” who claimed Combs manipulated them into romantic relationships before coercing them into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual encounters with male escorts.
In response, the defense sought to undermine these accounts by presenting text messages suggesting that Ventura and Jane consented to and even coordinated these meetings. After the prosecution called over twenty witnesses-including former employees, federal agents, and acquaintances of the alleged victims-the defense rested without presenting any witnesses, concluding their case in under half an hour. Ultimately, the jury acquitted Combs of the most serious charges but convicted him on the counts of transporting the two women across state lines for commercial sex acts.
Although Combs was cleared of the gravest allegations, even his defense team acknowledged the harm caused. A pivotal piece of evidence was a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura in a hotel corridor. Throughout the trial, his attorneys admitted to his history of domestic violence but noted that these offenses were not part of the charges he faced.
During the sentencing, prosecutors highlighted Combs’ violent conduct as a key factor warranting a lengthier prison term.
