Controversial hip-hop figure Sean “Diddy” Combs appears certain he will be set free from jail after serving time, as he has already arranged speaking events for next week, prosecutors disclosed during his sentencing on Friday.
This startling information emerged as prosecutors commenced their opening arguments in the Manhattan federal court, emphasizing that the founder of Bad Boy Records should be incarcerated for over 11 years.
“Even now, during sentencing for his conviction on two federal offenses… he fails to comprehend the implications of his actions,” said federal prosecutor Mary Slavik. “His reverence for the law is merely superficial.”
“He has scheduled speaking engagements in Miami for next week. That’s the height of arrogance, your honor,” Slavik stated.
One of Combs’ defense lawyers later argued that the renowned mogul was actually booked for “teaching engagements” aimed at inmates in South Florida.
The harsh criticism of Combs’ alleged arrogance arose as Slavik maintained that the music mogul utilized his status and financial resources to exploit and sexually degrade victims, including his long-term ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
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Combs, 55, was found guilty of two prostitution-related charges in July but was acquitted of more severe charges such as sex trafficking and racketeering.
The trial spanned two months, revealing disturbing details about Combs’ disturbing “freak-offs”—drug-infused sessions rife with baby oil in which he coerced Ventura and others into sexual activities with male escorts.
However, Slavik emphasized that the case transcends merely depraved “freak-offs.”
“This isn’t just a sex case,” she clarified. “It’s about genuine victims who have endured real harm at the defendant’s hands… it’s about a man who inflicted horrific acts on others for his own gratification.”
Victims who testified, including Ventura, were not anticipated to appear at the sentencing; however, they sent extensive statements detailing the traumatic aftermath of their experiences with the rapper.
One victim— Combs’ former assistant, known by the pseudonym “Mia”—was once planned to address the court but withdrew last minute after Combs’ attorneys questioned her credibility in a filing that prosecutors labeled as “bullying.”
Judge Arun Subramanian remarked that the defense’s letter crossed an inappropriate boundary.
“The tone of the defense’s correspondence was unacceptable,” he commented.
Though Combs’ victims will not testify, the defense indicated that two or three of his children would provide statements, along with Rev. Gary Johnson and two physicians who evaluated the “I’ll Be Missing You” artist.
Subramanian also noted he could factor in Combs’ acquitted conduct—meaning charges the jury didn’t convict him on might still influence his sentencing.
These include multiple accounts of Combs’ notorious violence presented during the trial.
Combs, dressed in an oatmeal sweater with grayish-white hair, appeared to slouch when he realized the judge would consider those horrifying actions.
When Slavik remarked that Combs acknowledged the violence, the mogul, once a leading figure in entertainment, sharply breathed out and seemed to quietly utter the word “f–k.”
Combs’ attorneys have resisted this notion, advocating for a lighter sentence.
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Prosecutors are recommending an 11-year prison sentence, whereas the defense seeks the Bad Boy Records founder’s release based on time served—a mere 14 months in custody.
As the hearing commenced, Subramanian stated that sentencing guideline calculations suggested a term of nearly six to seven years of imprisonment.
Nonetheless, the judge holds the authority to impose a sentence shorter or longer than the prosecutors’ recommendation.
Slavik maintained that Combs’ “abuse was regular, almost casual, yet life-altering for those who suffered it.”
She concluded the federal pre-sentencing statement by imploring the judge to impose a sentence of 11 years and three months.
“The defendant claims he has moved on… it’s crucial for the court to recognize that his victims do not have the luxury of easily moving forward,” Slavik emphasized. “They are still trying to recover.”
In a final plea for leniency, Combs wrote a letter to Subramanian on Thursday, stating he is a changed individual deserving of a “second chance.”
“I can’t alter the past, but I can influence the future,” he wrote. “I believe God has placed me here for a transformation. Since my incarceration, I’ve experienced a spiritual reset.
“If granted the opportunity to return to my family, I assure you I won’t let you down and will make you proud.”
Diddy has been incarcerated at Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in September 2024.
