The courtroom spotlight is once again fixed on Sean “Diddy” Combs. Federal prosecutors have asked a Manhattan judge to hand the 55-year-old music mogul more than 11 years behind bars, plus a $500,000 fine, after his conviction on prostitution-related charges.
In July, a jury found Combs guilty on two counts of transporting men across state lines for what prosecutors described as drug-fueled sexual encounters with his girlfriends, while he allegedly filmed and observed. He was acquitted, however, of the most severe allegations—racketeering and sex trafficking—that could have carried a life sentence.
The sentencing, set for Friday, will be decided by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. Prosecutors are asking for at least 135 months in prison. Combs’ defense team has countered with a plea for a much lighter term: 14 months, pointing to his time already served at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his 2024 arrest. If the judge agrees, Combs could walk free before the year’s end.
Defense lawyers argue that allegations of abuse from Combs’ former partners should not influence sentencing since the jury did not convict on coercion-related charges. Prosecutors, meanwhile, emphasized that testimony from two women—who described being pressured and physically attacked before participating in what were called “Freak Offs”—underscores the gravity of his actions.
Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records and long celebrated for shaping American music and culture, maintains his innocence and is expected to appeal the conviction.
The final decision now rests with the court, which will determine whether the hip-hop tycoon’s future lies in freedom or a federal prison cell.
