Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will be sentenced Friday in New York after being convicted on two prostitution-related counts, with prosecutors pushing for at least 11 years in prison.
The 55-year-old was acquitted in July of more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, sparing him a potential life sentence. However, each of the remaining counts carries up to 10 years behind bars.
Prosecutors have described Combs as “unrepentant” and a threat to the public, while his lawyers are asking for a 14-month sentence — which would effectively amount to time served.
Judge Arun Subramanian is reviewing victim impact statements and letters of support ahead of his decision. Among them is testimony from singer Casandra Ventura, also known as Cassie, who detailed years of alleged abuse and coercion, including being forced into “freak-offs” that Combs directed and filmed. Ventura urged the court to deliver a sentence that acknowledges the courage of victims who came forward.
Combs, who has been jailed in Brooklyn for more than a year, wrote to the judge apologizing for his actions and vowing never to reoffend. He is also expected to speak in court before sentencing.
Defense lawyers argue that Combs’s legacy is already “shattered” and that he has endured enough. Still, prosecutors maintain that the crimes warrant a lengthy prison term.
Regardless of the outcome, speculation remains over whether Combs could seek a presidential pardon.
