American rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after being found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution.
The sentence was delivered on Friday by Judge Arun Subramanian at the U.S. District Court in New York, marking a significant moment in a high-profile trial that has gripped the entertainment industry.
Before announcing the sentence, Judge Subramanian acknowledged Diddy’s influence in music and business but stressed that his crimes could not be overlooked.
“However, the court has to consider all of your history here,” Subramanian said.
The judge condemned Combs’ treatment of Cassie Ventura and Jane Doe, women who accused him of coercing them into sex with male escorts for his personal gratification.
“You abused them,” the judge told Combs. “Physically, emotionally and psychologically…”
“I know you feel you are in a dark place right now, but the crimes committed were serious. You and your family, you are going to get through this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Subramanian commended Ventura and Jane Doe for their courage in testifying.
“We heard you. I am proud of you for coming to the court to tell what really happened,” he said.
According to court documents, Combs was convicted of transporting individuals across state lines for sexual encounters he dubbed “freak-offs,” which involved girlfriends and hired male sex workers.
The rapper was first arrested in September 2024, after more than 120 people, including a minor, came forward with allegations of kidnapping, abuse, blackmail, and prostitution-related crimes.
In July 2025, a jury found him guilty on two counts related to transportation for prostitution connected to incidents involving Ventura and Jane Doe. However, he was acquitted of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and racketeering conspiracy.
Federal prosecutors earlier in the week had sought an 11-year sentence, arguing that Combs showed no remorse and that his victims remained fearful.
His defense team, meanwhile, requested a 14-month sentence, equivalent to time served since his arrest.
Combs has been detained for over a year at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, one of the United States’ toughest federal facilities.
