Sean “Diddy” Combs’ life of luxury atop the hip-hop world vanished with his criminal conviction.
He now faces the grim prospect of more years behind bars as his attorneys make plans to appeal.
Combs’ carefully cultivated reputation as an affable celebrity entrepreneur, A-list party host, and reality TV star came crashing down on Friday. The Grammy-winning artist and music executive was sentenced to four years and two months in prison for transporting people across state lines for sexual encounters.
A public reckoning for the 55-year-old music star, who pleaded for leniency while weeping as his lawyers played a video portraying his family life, career, and philanthropy.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian also imposed a fine of $500,000, the maximum allowed.
Combs was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male sex workers across the country for numerous drug-fueled sexual encounters.
The nearly two-month trial in a federal court in Manhattan featured harrowing testimony from women who alleged Combs beat, threatened, sexually assaulted, and blackmailed them.
He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have led to a life sentence.
Combs has already served a year in jail, meaning he could be out in about three years. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of more than 11 years, while Combs’ legal team argued his remorse justifies immediate release.
Combs was sent to a Brooklyn federal lockup after his arrest last year.
The charge stemmed from violating the federal Mann Act, which prohibits the transportation of individuals across state lines for the purpose of prostitution.
Combs’ reputational descent began when his former girlfriend Cassie sued him in 2023, alleging abuse. This prompted a series of similar accusations from other individuals.
The case has since become a talking point in popular culture, receiving mockery on various media platforms due to absurd details that emerged during the trial.
