SEAN “Diddy” Combs has been jailed for over 4 years after he was found guilty on two prostitution charges.
The disgraced music mogul, 55, was facing a maximum of 20 years behind bars but has been handed down a 50-month jail term despite a last minute plea for freedom.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will face X years in prison[/caption]
Combs seen weeping in court after he was acquitted of the most serious charges back in July[/caption]
Speaking in court today, an emotional Combs said: “I have been humbled and broken to my core.
“I hate myself right now, I’ve been stripped down to nothing.”
He apologised to former girlfriends Cassie and ‘Jane’ and even apologised to all victims of domestic violence.
The disgraced mogul said he was “sick from drugs”, “out of control” and that he got “lost in my excess and lost in my ego”.
Combs had begged Manhattan Judge Arun Subramanian for mercy in a four-page apology letter ahead of the sentencing.
He apologised “for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused”.
Adding that he is now a reformed man following over a year of being incarcerated in a Brooklyn jail.
Combs wrote: “I literally lost my mind. I’m sorry for that and always will be.
“My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry.”
He was referencing an assault on his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, which formed part of the bombshell trial.
In his grovelling letter, Combs blamed his actions on drugs.
“I lost my way. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core,” he penned.
“The old me died in jail and a new version of me was born. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live.”
Ms Ventura had also sent a letter to the judge saying she feared Combs walking free as he would want “swift retribution”.
Cassie Ventura had also sent a letter to the judge saying she feared Combs walking free as he would want ‘swift retribution’[/caption]
She said: “He has no interest in changing or becoming better. He will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is.”
Back in July, Combs was the focus of a shocking near eight-week trial around his criminal actions across decades in the music industry.
He was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
But acquitted of his most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking – meaning he avoided a much lengthier sentence.
He will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is
Cassie Ventura
The shamed music executive fell to his knees in prayer after the jury foreperson read the stunning verdict to the courtroom on July 2.
Combs’ defense team delivered a post-verdict victory speech to reporters outside the US District Courthouse, calling the outcome a “great victory for the jury system.”
Marc Agnifilo said the 12-person jury “got the situation right – or certainly, right enough.”
Janice Combs, mum of the disgraced rapper, arrives at court today[/caption]
A pregnant Ventura testifies in court as a video of her being kicked by Combs was played[/caption]
“We are not nearly done fighting. We’re not going to stop until he walks out of prison a free man to his family,” he added.
As Combs was found guilty on transportation to engage in prostitution the prosecution had recommended he faced 11 years behind bars.
They cited Combs’ history of physical and mental abuse of his ex-girlfriends and employees who took the stand against him.
His legal team argued a two-year sentence would be more appropriate.
Combs could have been released later this month if he was handed the lowest sentence after already serving 13 months behind bars.
How $10m case against Diddy collapsed after prosecutors got greedy
BY Georgie English, Foreign News Reporter
MANY had believed the disgraced music mogul would be given life in prison over racketeering and sex trafficking charges back in July.
But when the verdicts were read out Combs fell to his knees in glee after being acquitted of the two most damaging allegations.
The New York jury did find the Bad Boy rapper, 55, guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
But with each count carrying just a maximum 10-year prison sentence and no minimum, Combs’ legal team sighed a breath of relief in the courtroom.
As arguably the trial of the century kicked off earlier this year many had thought Combs had next to no chance of getting off so lightly.
The majority of federal cases end in a conviction and with “freak off” revelations, baby oil hauls and disturbing claims all being made public at trial, the case seemed simple to most.
But as the final judgments were made and Combs mouthed to his family he’ll be “home soon”, questions emerged around how he escaped a severe punishment.
Many believed the fault lies with the prosecution for aiming too high with their charges.
They lobbied for a complicated racketeering case that is typically reserved for the most high profile mob bosses.
The burden of proof needed to convict a criminal on such charges will always be tough to reach due to the repercussions of life behind bars.
And as the prosecution scrambled to keep the music producer locked up with a myriad of witnesses and claims, the defence simply played down the seriousness of Combs’ crimes.
Combs’ defence had always remained firm in their admission of some form of guilt from the very start of the trial.
His lawyer Teny Geragos made an extraordinary admission in her opening statement in court as she described Combs as a domestic abuser with a vicious temper.
Geragos put it on the first day: “It is evidence of domestic violence. But it is not evidence of sex trafficking.”
As the trial continued, the defence remained adamant that all the pieces of evidence were simply painting a picture of a disturbed individual rather than a calculated criminal.
Marc Agnifilo, the mogul’s attorney, even said in his eyes Combs was simply living a “swinger’s lifestyle”.
His fellow inmates had handed in glowing handwritten testimonials in favour of Combs after the rapper spent his time inside hosting classes.
The 55-year-old has reportedly been running a weekly session called “Free Game with Diddy.”
Inmates say it covers everything from entrepreneurship to health advice, while also giving them a chance to “pick his brain” about fame and money.
Douglas Welch, 42, told Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs “brings love into the Unit” and claimed the class pushed him to go “harder at my health journey”.
Another inmate, Quinton Davis, said the sessions included “business Management, entrepreneurship and life skills,” adding that Combs had even encouraged the group to use “AI and Chat GPT.”
“It’s a key factor and inside scoop on how Mr. Combs started from nothing and became the icon-business mogul he is today,” Davis explained.
Police raided Combs’ home and found shelves full of baby oil[/caption]
Combs was known for throwing lavish parties alongside Hollywood’s elites during the 90s and 2000s[/caption]
The rapper has remained inside the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) after being denied bail on several occasions[/caption]
