Tag: Sean "Diddy" Combs

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Behind the judge’s reasoning for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sentencing; Reporter’s Notebook: Trump rebrands words as tools of power.

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October 3, 2025
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A judge on Friday ordered Sean “Diddy” Combs to serve 50 months in prison — just over four years — for two prostitution-related charges. Combs was also given five years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine. CBS News examines the high-profile federal trial in New York, the explosive testimonies, and what led to Comb’s arrest and federal charges in the one-hour special, “Sean Diddy Combs: The Sentencing,” hosted by Jericka Duncan.

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October 3, 2025
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sentenced to 50 months in prison for prostitution-related conviction

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New York (CNN) – Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to 50 months, or just over four years, in prison for his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Federal District Judge Arun Subramanian announced the decision on Friday, Oct. 3, saying “a substantial sentence must be given to send a message to abusers and victims alike that abuse against women is met with real accountability.”

The judge noted that this is “hard time” away from Combs’ family, but also noting Combs will have a life after prison.

The judge said outpatient treatment and mental health programs were warranted. Subramanian also ordered Combs to serve five years of supervised release.

Combs’ lawyers had argued he should be released almost immediately, asking the judge to sentence him to no more than 14 months including time served. Prosecutors said he should’ve faced more than 11 years in prison.

Sean “Diddy” Combs becomes emotional as his children go to the podium to make impact statements during his court sentencing on Friday. Credit: Jane Rosenberg / Reuters via CNN Newsource

Combs was found guilty of two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution in July but was acquitted of more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have led to a life sentence.

Subramanian said Cassie Ventura and “Jane” have “been through abuse and trauma that most of us cannot imagine.”

Subramanian thanked the victims for coming forward and said “I want to say first we heard you.”

“To Ms. Ventura, Jane, and the other victims here who came forward, I can only say — your families are proud of you and your children, when they’re old enough will be proud of you, and I am proud of you for telling the world what really happened,” Subramanian said.

“You were speaking to the millions of women out there who have been victims but feel invisible and powerless and had to suffer in silence,” he said. “You told those women and the world that violence behind closed doors doesn’t have to stay hidden forever. The number of people who you reached is incalculable.”

Arick Fudali, a lawyer who represents others who have filed lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, said he hope’s today’s sentencing encourages other victims to come forward.

Law enforcement officers stand guard outside the court after Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to more than four years in prison on Friday. Credit: Jeenah Moon / Reuters via CNN Newsource

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October 3, 2025
Behind the judge’s reasoning for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sentencing

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Behind the judge’s reasoning for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sentencing – CBS News

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A judge sentenced Sean “Diddy” Combs to 50 months in prison on prostitution-related charges. Jessica Levinson has more on the judge’s reasoning.

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October 3, 2025
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs gets 4 years in prison and is fined half a million dollars for case involving sex workers, violence and ‘freak-offs’ | Fortune

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Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced Friday to four years and two months in prison for transporting people across state lines for sexual encounters, capping a sordid federal case that featured harrowing testimony and ended in a forceful reckoning for one of the most popular figures in hip-hop.

Combs, 55, was also fined half a million dollars. Since Combs has served a year in jail already, this sentence means he would be released in about three years. His lawyers wanted him freed immediately and said the time behind bars has already forced his remorse and sobriety.

He was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male sex workers around the country to engage in drug-fueled sexual encounters, a practice that happened over many years and in different locations. However, he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.

“Why did it happen so long?” U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian asked as he handed down the sentence. “Because you had the power and the resources to keep it going, and because you weren’t caught.”

Combs showed no visible change of emotion as he learned his sentence, sitting in his chair and looking straight ahead as the judge spoke. He remained subdued afterward and appeared dejected, with none of the enthusiasm and smiles that accompanied his interactions with lawyers and his family earlier in the day. He said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” to his family right before leaving the courtroom.

In a final speech before sentencing, Combs made a plea for leniency.

“I ask your honor for a chance to be a father again,” Combs said, “a son again … a leader in my community again … for a chance to get the help that I desperately need to be a better person.” He apologized to the people he hurt physically and mentally with his “disgusting, shameful” actions, and said the domestic violence was a burden he would carry for the rest of his life.

Earlier, Combs wept as his defense lawyers played a video in court portraying his family life, career and philanthropy.

His nearly two-month trial in a federal court in Manhattan featured testimony from women who said Combs beat, threatened, sexually assaulted and blackmailed them. Prosecutor Christy Slavik told the judge that sparing Combs serious prison time would excuse years of violence.

“It’s a case about a man who did horrible things to real people to satisfy his own sexual gratification,” she said. “He didn’t need the money. His currency was control.”

Combs was convicted under the Mann Act, which bans transporting people across state lines for prostitution. Defense attorney Jason Driscoll argued the law was misapplied.

During testimony at the trial, former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura told jurors that Combs ordered her to have “disgusting” sex with strangers hundreds of times during their decade-long relationship. Jurors saw video of him dragging and beating her in a Los Angeles hotel hallway after one such multiday “freak-off.

“While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs,” Cassie’s attorneys, Douglas Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, said in a statement, “the sentence imposed today recognizes the impact of the serious offenses he committed.”

Another woman, identified as “Jane,” testified she was pressured into sex with male workers during drug-fueled “hotel nights” while Combs watched and sometimes filmed.

The only accuser scheduled to speak Friday, a former assistant known as “Mia,” withdrew after defense objections. She has accused Combs of raping her in 2010 and asked the judge for a sentence that reflects “the ongoing danger my abuser poses.”

Combs’ daughters Chance and D’Lila Combs cried as they spoke in court Friday, with D’Lila saying she feared losing her father after the death of their mother, Kim Porter, in 2018. Six of Combs’ seven children addressed the judge.

“Please, your honor, please,” D’Lila said through tears, “give our family the chance to heal together, to rebuild, to change, to move forward, not as a headline, but as human beings.”

Outside the courthouse, journalists and onlookers swarmed, echoing scenes from Combs’ trial.

Sade Bess, a Combs fan from Brooklyn, left the court’s overflow observation room looking both sad and relieved.

“It’s devastating to see a pioneer of the Black community’s legacy nearly diminished,” she said. “But the judge showed mercy by giving him a second chance, while still honoring the victims.”

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October 3, 2025
A Timeline Of The Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sex Trafficking & Racketeering Trial

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Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to more than four years in prison.

Source: Sean “Diddy” Combs – Picture / Sean “Diddy” Combs – Picture provided by Canva

U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced the disgraced music mogul to 50 months behind bars, per NBC News.

Following his highly publicized trial, prosecutors sought an 11-year, three-month prison term for his Mann Act conviction, while the defense was trying for a 14-month sentence, which would amount to time served.

Combs, 55, was taken into custody in September last year. His sentence will include the year-plus he has already spent behind bars.

The long-running Diddy sex trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution case has finally been wrapped up. According to CNN, sentencing recommendations from the defense, prosecution, and probation departments differed tremendously.

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As previously reported, in July, Combs was convicted on two counts of transporting women for prostitution under the Mann Act, specifically for the transportation of former girlfriend Jane and the transportation of ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. Each charge carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Federal prosecutors were pushing for a sentence of more than 11 years, arguing that Combs physically and emotionally abused girlfriends and employees over the course of many years, all while showing no remorse for his actions.

His defense team, on the other hand, asked for no more than 14 months, including time already served. They strongly believed that the judge should disregard any testimony or evidence tied to charges Combs was acquitted of, including allegations that he coerced victims.

If the judge sided with the defense, Combs could have been released from federal custody almost immediately. Meanwhile, the court’s probation department recommended a sentence between 70 and 87 months. Earlier today, the judge stated there’s no clear reason to stray from those guidelines.

Here’s everything that’s happened throughout the case.

November 2023 – Cassie filed a lawsuit against Combs.

Source: Taylor Hill / Getty

On Nov. 17, 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, accusing Combs of rape, sex trafficking, drug abuse, coercion, and repeated violence over the course of their decades-long relationship.

The next day, Combs quickly settled the lawsuit, with terms kept confidential.

“I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control,” Ventura said in a statement at the time. “I want to thank my family, fans, and lawyers for their unwavering support.”

Combs added, “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best.”

But the lawsuit was just the tip of the iceberg. Soon, several other alleged victims brought additional civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault, forced drugging, and abuse during past relationships with the hip-hop mogul.

March 2024 – Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes in LA and Miami were raided by Homeland Security.

Source: MEGA / Getty

In March 2024, properties owned by Combs in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Homeland Security agents. According to Page Six, the Miami raid uncovered what FBI agents described as “a slew of weapons, several boxes of high-heeled heels typically worn by exotic dancers and lingerie, bottles of baby oil and lubricant, and various bags filled with narcotics.” Meanwhile, the Los Angeles search revealed a similar scene, an “array of weapons” along with a staggering 200 bottles of baby oil and 900 bottles of lubricant, reportedly found scattered throughout the home, including in Combs’ bedroom.

May 2024: Video of Diddy assaulting Cassie in 2016 surfaces.

Source: Gotham / Getty

On May 17, 2024, CNN released surveillance footage showing Combs physically assaulting Cassie during a 2016 incident that closely mirrored the allegations outlined in her November 2023 lawsuit.

The video showed the former singer and mother leaving a hotel room and walking toward an elevator before Combs, wearing only a towel, chased after her. He grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the ground. As Cassie lay motionless, Combs was seen violently kicking her and then walking away with her purse and suitcase.

September 2024 – Diddy was indicted.

Source: Getty / General

Months later, on Sept. 16, 2024, he was arrested in New York on a federal indictment charging him with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs pleaded not guilty. Multiple bail requests were denied.

May 2025 – The Diddy sex trafficking and racketeering trial began.

Source: The Washington Post / Getty

The rapper and hip-hop icon’s trial officially began May 5 in federal court in Lower Manhattan, led by Judge Arun Subramanian. Jury selection occupied the early days, and opening statements began May 12. Over the next several weeks, testimony was heard from alleged victims, employees, experts, and others, with the prosecution presenting evidence such as videos, travel logs, and witness accounts.

Prosecutors opened the trial by alleging that the Grammy-winner used his fame, power, and wealth to operate a criminal enterprise that enabled his so-called “freak offs,” drug-fueled sex parties involving both paid sex workers and unwilling participants. They claimed Combs used violence, intimidation, and coercion to force victims—including his ex-girlfriend Cassie—to participate in these disturbing encounters.

Some of the most significant testimony came early in the Diddy trial. LAPD officer Israel Florez, who previously worked in hotel security, was the first witness to take the stand. He testified about being on duty at the Intercontinental Hotel in March 2016, the day surveillance footage captured Combs dragging and kicking Cassie in a hallway.

Later, another witness, Daniel Phillip—a male stripper—testified that he was paid thousands of dollars to perform sex acts with the songstress while Combs watched. He recounted an incident from around 2012 or 2013, describing how Combs allegedly became enraged when Cassie didn’t respond to him immediately. According to Phillip, Combs threw a liquor bottle at her and then dragged her by the hair into a bedroom, where he appeared to physically assault her. Phillip said he was too afraid to intervene, especially with Combs’ bodyguards present.

But the most devastating testimony came from Cassie herself. As reported by NewsOne, during the first week of the trial, she gave a harrowing account of the years of alleged abuse, control, and humiliation she suffered while in a relationship with the hip-hop mogul. She painted a chilling picture of what life was like behind the glamorous façade, recounting not only the physical assaults but also the psychological torment of being forced to participate in the infamous “freak offs.”

“He would smash me in my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me in the head if I was down,” Cassie testified at the time of the abuse she endured.

The “Me & U” singer claimed that after one particularly brutal assault in 2008, Combs made her recover in isolation at a hotel. In another haunting moment, Cassie said she wore sunglasses to a red carpet premiere to hide the bruises left on her face. She also described the toll these encounters took on her health, stating that she developed frequent urinary tract infections from back-to-back “freak offs,” to the point where antibiotics no longer worked.

July 2025 – Diddy found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking.

Source: LEONARDO MUNOZ / Getty

After three days of jury deliberations, a verdict was delivered July 2 for the Diddy sex trafficking and racketeering trial. Combs was found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force/fraud/coercion charges, but guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act. His sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 3.

September 2025: Cassie pens a heartbreaking letter to the court ahead of sentencing, “I’m so scared.”

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty

As previously reported, ahead of the Oct. 3 sentencing hearing for the Diddy sex trafficking and racketeering trial, Cassie once again pleaded with the court, detailing the years of abuse and psychological manipulation she fought through while with Combs. In a powerful three-page victim impact statement obtained by Rolling Stone, she expressed not only the trauma of her past but also the fear she continues to live with today.

“I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up,” she wrote, making it clear that Combs’ release would not just be a legal outcome; it would be a threat to her safety and that of other victims.

“For four days in May, while nine months pregnant, I testified in front of a packed courtroom about the most traumatic and horrifying chapter in my life,” she added. Today, she says she lives “as private and quiet as possible,” constantly looking over her shoulder, fearing what could happen if Combs walks free.

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October 3, 2025
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Sean “Diddy” Combs pleads for mercy before his sentencing – CBS News

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Sean “Diddy” Combs is expected in court in New York City for his sentencing for two prostitution-related charges. CBS News legal contributor Caroline Polisi has more.

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October 3, 2025
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Updated 5m ago

Mia to speak at sentencing hearing

A woman who testified under the pseudonym Mia at Combs’ trial will speak at the sentencing hearing.

Mia is Combs’ former employee who expressed being traumatized by Combs and said he sexually assaulted her multiple times.

She submitted a victim impact statement, and the prosecution asked that she be allowed to speak for about five minutes on Friday.

There were heated filings back and forth about whether she would be allowed to speak. The defense wrote a scathing response, alleging that Mia assumed a “fake identity” on the stand “complete with a made up voice and demeanor” and that “virtually everything that came out of her mouth was a lie.”

“This was a show for her. She got to lie, she got to testify with a false identity, she got to try out her fake voice for a jury of savvy New Yorkers,” wrote Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo. “But, she also saw the consequences of lying to a jury: they don’t believe you. So, now that the jurors have returned to their lives, and she can testify without scrutiny, she wants to come back, still under a fake name, still with the false narrative to further sully these proceedings.”

The prosecution called the defense’s letter: “offensive, unprofessional, and on its face nothing more than a blatant attempt to smear a victim who bravely testified about years of traumatic events she experienced at the defendant’s hands. This rhetoric has no place in this Court or during these civilized proceedings.”
By Katrina Kaufman

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/diddy-sentencing-hearing/#post-update-6f02f4e2
Updated 5m ago

Cassie Ventura wrote letter to court about sentencing

Along with their presentencing submission, prosecutors filed a letter that singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura wrote to the court in which she expressed her fear of retaliation if Combs “walks free.” She asked Judge Subramian to impose a sentence that “considered the many lives that Sean Combs has upended with his abuse and control.”

“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality,” Ventura’s letter read in part. “As much progress as I have made in recovering from his abuse, I remain very much afraid of what he is capable of and the malice he undoubtedly harbors towards me for having the bravery to tell the truth.”
By Emily Mae Czachor

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/diddy-sentencing-hearing/#post-update-94441fc1
Updated 5m ago

Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted on two counts
Combs, 55, faced five charges at his high-profile trial over the summer. He was ultimately convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, which were the more serious charges against him.

Combs chose to not take the stand and pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, which were:

Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy – Combs was found NOT GUILTY.

Count 2: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion (Casandra Ventura) – Combs was found NOT GUILTY.

Count 3: Transportation to engage in prostitution (Casandra Ventura) – Combs was found GUILTY.

Count 4: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion (“Jane”) – Combs was found NOT GUILTY.

Count 5: Transportation to engage in prostitution (“Jane”) – Combs was found GUILTY.

Combs’ two convictions carry maximum sentences of 10 years in prison each. The convictions were based on the Mann Act, a law that makes it a federal crime to transport someone across state lines for prostitution.

Jurors found Combs guilty of arranging interstate travel for commercial sex workers and his former girlfriends, the singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, and another woman who testified for the prosecution at his trial as “Jane,” with the intent that they engage in prostitution.

Both women testified that Combs habitually orchestrated “freak offs” — prolonged, drug-fueled sexual encounters with hired participants in which he forced each of them to partake, sometimes for days. Ventura also accused Combs of repeated abuse throughout their relationship, including rape, and described lasting psychological consequences she suffered as a result.

The jury reached its verdict after nearly two months of emotional testimony from Ventura and others who described him as controlling, manipulative and violent.

His attorneys acknowledged Combs’ domestic violence record but denied accusations by Ventura and “Jane” that the Grammy winner wielded his status in the music industry to subject them to extensive emotional and physical abuse.
By Emily Mae Czachor

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/diddy-sentencing-hearing/#post-update-e5879ee4
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October 3, 2025
Live updates: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces sentencing; victims say time for justice
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What to Know

The hip-hop mogul was convicted in July of flying people around the country for sexual encounters, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, in violation of the federal Mann Act.

A jury acquitted Combs, 55, of more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges that could have put him away for life.

Prosecutors say he should spend more than 11 years in prison for his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs’ lawyers want him freed now, saying the long sentence sought by prosecutors is “wildly out of proportion” to the crime.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who will decide the sentence, has signaled that Combs is unlikely to be freed soon. He twice rejected bail for the rapper, who has been jailed at a federal detention center in Brooklyn since his arrest a year ago.
For more than two decades, Sean “Diddy” Combs was one of hip-hop’s most nimble entrepreneurs. Then he was charged with forcing, threatening and manipulating two ex-girlfriends into drug-fueled sex marathons.

Acquitted of the most serious charges, Diddy was convicted of transporting people across state lines to engage in prostitution. His sentencing is Friday. Prosecutors want 11 years in prison. His lawyers seek time served.

Track the latest developments here:
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October 3, 2025
Diddy crafts image of model prisoner amid fears of retaliation from victims

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Sean “Diddy” Combs turned a page on his past life and inspired inmates through business mentorship programs over the last year while behind bars on federal sex crimes charges.

In letters of support submitted to the court before the disgraced rap mogul is sentenced Friday, Oct. 3, a fellow inmate praised Diddy for his motivational acumen, while an alleged victim denied being “sex trafficked” and forced into prostitution.

A number of alleged victims, including ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, came forward to voice concerns about the potential for a shorter sentence. Cassie wrote that she fled New York out of fear of “swift retribution” at the hands of Diddy or one of his associates.

A jury convicted Diddy in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper was acquitted of his most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

DIDDY BEGS JUDGE FOR LENIENCY, SAYS GOD MADE HIM ‘STRONGER, WISER, CLEAN, SOBER’

Diddy built his massive empire being business savvy, and had a positive impact on inmates, according to letters submitted to the judge. (Gareth Cattermole)

Inmate Ho Wen Kwok, known as Miles Guo, had “multiple conversations” with Diddy throughout his time at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn. In a letter submitted to Judge Arun Subramanian, Guo wrote that he had personally witnessed Diddy go through “extreme emotional changes” throughout the case.

“When he first arrived, he was extremely depressed and was going through dark stages,” Guo noted. “But now he has found his light again. Because he has seen what this can do to your family and although he fell off, he has climbed back to the top of the mountain again.”

Diddy allegedly asked Guo for assistance creating an “AI platform so that we can help the people.” The Bad Boy Records founder also began a business entrepreneurship course for inmates.

“We have spoken about creating programs to take the youth out of the street and help them with music, sports, and just to find their light,” Guo wrote. “Since he found his light, he has spread it and try to shine as bright as he can by sharing it with the unfortunate in MDC by starting a course named ‘Free Game With Diddy.’”

DIDDY PLANNING UNCONVENTIONAL MOVE IN COURT AHEAD OF SENTENCING FOR PROSTITUTION CHARGES

A mother of an inmate, Maribel Flaquer, told the judge that Diddy had a “life-changing” positive influence on her son Raymond.

“Since he found his light, he has spread it and try to shine as bright as he can by sharing it with the unfortunate in MDC by starting a course named ‘Free Game With Diddy.’”

— Miles Guo

“To see my son find hope, guidance, and a new sense of responsibility has been a blessing,” Flaquer wrote. “I am so thankful to Diddy for taking the time to pour wisdom into him and for helping him realize that his life is not over – that he can still create a bright future.”

Sean “Diddy” Comb appeared in federal court throughout his two-month trial, but never testified in his case. (Jane Rosenberg)

She added, “I truly believe this experience and Diddy’s mentorship have changed the trajectory of Raymond’s life. I am forever grateful for the inspiration, encouragement, and belief he has given my son.”

Virginia Huynh, who identified herself as Victim 3 in the case, wrote that she fully cooperated with prosecutors during the investigation, but felt “pressured to feel like a victim” and insisted she did not agree with the government that she had been involved in “forced prostitution.”

“I am so thankful to Diddy for taking the time to pour wisdom into him and for helping him realize that his life is not over – that he can still create a bright future.”

— Maribel Flaquer

“I was not trafficked. I did not engage in prostitution with him or others,” she noted. “That would have been my testimony if called to the stand. I was subpoenaed and fully prepared to testify and answer all questions truthfully. But I was informed by my lawyer that I would not be called to take the stand.”

Sean “Diddy” Comb’s federal sex crimes trial began in May and ended July 2 with his conviction on two counts of suspicion to engage in prostitution. (Jane Rosenberg)

Huynh told the court that Diddy hadn’t contacted her, nor made her feel uncomfortable “in any way” throughout the process. She believed he would “continue to be compliant with the court’s conditions upon release.”

“In terms of sentencing, I kindly ask that you consider releasing him back to his family,” Huynh wrote. “I understand throughout the process he has been cooperative and respectful, including turning himself in.”

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“I was not trafficked. I did not engage in prostitution with him or others.”

— Victim No. 3, Virginia Huynh

Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and other witnesses who testified during the eight-week trial, submitted letters to the judge ahead of the rapper’s sentencing.

“I still have nightmares and flashbacks on a regular, everyday basis, and continue to require psychological care to cope with my past,” Ventura, who dated Diddy until 2018, wrote in the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital.

Cassie and Diddy met in 2006 and officially ended their romantic relationship in 2018. (Getty Images)

Cassie Ventura gave emotional testimony during Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial. (Jane Rosenberg)

“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality. I have in fact moved my family out of the New York area and am keeping as private and quiet as I possibly can because I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse at trial.”

Diddy’s former assistants, “Mia” and Capricorn Clark, along with the rapper’s former personal chef, each wrote letters to the judge. Ventura’s former stylist, Deonte Nash, reiterated the singer’s concerns about retribution in his letter.

“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality.”

— Cassie Ventura

In the disgraced music mogul’s own letter to the court, Diddy took “full responsibility and accountability” for his past wrongdoings. His legal team proposed a 14-month sentence ahead of his Oct. 3 hearing. The “I Need A Girl” rapper has already spent 13 months behind bars.

“This has been the hardest 2 years of my life, and I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself,” Diddy wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News Digital.

The producer admitted he was free from drugs and alcohol “for the first time in 25 years,” and praised God “that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober.”

“In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them,” Diddy wrote. “I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused, but I understand that the mere words ‘I’m sorry’ will never be good enough as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past.”

The producer admitted he was free from drugs and alcohol “for the first time in 25 years,” in a letter submitted to the court ahead of his Oct. 3 sentencing. (Getty Images)

Diddy “had to look in the mirror like never before” while behind bars, and admitted that “pain” became his teacher.

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“The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily,” he wrote. “I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. 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. The remorse, the sorrow, the regret, the disappointment, the shame.”

Diddy and his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, allegedly had a “freak off” at the InterContinental Hotel March 5, 2016, that turned violent. Cassie previously testified that she was attempting to leave the “freak off” after Diddy gave her a black eye.

After making it to the elevator lobby, the singer-songwriter testified, Diddy assaulted her. The rapper could be seen dragging Cassie down the hotel hallway in surveillance footage that was shown to the jury and previously released to the public in 2024.

WATCH: SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS ASSAULTS CASSIE VENTURA IN 2016 LOS ANGELES HOTEL INCIDENT

“I can’t change the past, but I can change the future,” Diddy wrote. “I know that God put me here to transform me. Since incarceration, I have gone through a spiritual reset. I’m on a journey that will take time and hard work. I’m proud to say I’m working harder than I ever have before.

“I’m committed to the journey of remaining a drug free, non-violent and peaceful person. I thank God that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober. God makes no mistakes. I realize that this trial has received a tremendous amount of global press and Your Honor may be inclined to make an example out of me.”

He added, “I would ask Your Honor to make me an example of what a person can do if afforded a second chance. If you allow me to go home to my family, I promise I will not let you down and I will make you proud.”

In his letter, Diddy admitted, “I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core. Jail is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually.”

Diddy wrote that he was committed to remaining a “drug free, non-violent and peaceful person.” (Getty Images)

“Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up. There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live.”

Diddy could spend a maximum of 20 years behind bars, 10 years for each count he was convicted of. The prosecution recommended 135 months (just over 11 years) for his sentencing.

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Tracy Wright is an entertainment reporter for Fox News Digital. Send story tips to Tracy.Wright@fox.com.

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October 2, 2025
Diddy begs judge for leniency, says God made him ‘stronger, wiser, clean, sober’

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Sean “Diddy” Combs apologized for “all of the hurt and pain” he caused with his conduct in a letter submitted to the court ahead of Friday’s sentencing.

“I take full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs,” Diddy wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News Digital. “This has been the hardest 2 years of my life, and I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself.”

The fallen rap mogul admitted he was free from drugs and alcohol “for the first time in 25 years” and praised God “that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober.”

On Friday, the “Last Night” singer is expected to address Judge Arun Subramanian during his sentencing hearing after his legal team asked for a 14-month penalty. Prosecutors have asked the court for a minimum of 11 years behind bars.

DIDDY PLANNING UNCONVENTIONAL MOVE IN COURT AHEAD OF SENTENCING FOR PROSTITUTION CHARGES

Sean “Diddy” Combs took “full responsibility” for his actions in an apology letter sent to the court before his sentencing hearing Friday. (Jason Merritt)

In his letter, Diddy admitted, “I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core. Jail is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually.

“Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up. There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you— I choose to live.”

A jury convicted Diddy on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution on July 2. The “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper was acquitted of his most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

DIDDY’S LAST-DITCH LEGAL MOVES SHUT DOWN BY JUDGE DAYS BEFORE SENTENCING

“In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them,” Diddy wrote. “I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused, but I understand that the mere words ‘I’m sorry’ will never be good enough as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past.”

Diddy “had to look in the mirror like never before” while behind bars and admitted that “pain” became his teacher.

Diddy was arrested and charged with multiple counts in September 2024. (Shareif Ziyadat)

The court viewed footage from the 2016 Intercontinental hotel incident during Diddy’s federal trial. (Jane Rosenberg)

“The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily,” he wrote. “I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. 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. The remorse, the sorrow, the regret, the disappointment, the shame.

“I honestly feel sorry for something that I couldn’t forgive someone else for: if they put their hands on one of my daughters. This is why it is so hard for me to forgive myself. It is like a deep wound that leaves an ugly scar.”

WATCH: SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS ASSAULTS CASSIE VENTURA IN 2016 LOS ANGELES HOTEL INCIDENT

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Diddy and his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, allegedly had a “freak off” at the InterContinental Hotel March 5, 2016, that turned violent. Cassie previously testified that she was attempting to leave the “freak off” after Diddy gave her a black eye.

After making it to the elevator lobby, the singer-songwriter testified, Diddy assaulted her. The rapper could be seen dragging Cassie down the hotel hallway in surveillance footage that was shown to the jury and previously released to the public in 2024.

Cassie and Diddy met in 2006 and ended their romantic relationship in 2018. (Getty Images)

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“I can’t change the past, but I can change the future,” Diddy wrote. “I know that God put me here to transform me. Since incarceration, I have gone through a spiritual reset. I’m on a journey that will take time and hard work. I’m proud to say I’m working harder than I ever have before.

“I’m committed to the journey of remaining a drug free, non-violent and peaceful person. I thank God that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober. God makes no mistakes. I realize that this trial has received a tremendous amount of global press and Your Honor may be inclined to make an example out of me.

“I would ask Your Honor to make me an example of what a person can do if afforded a second chance. If you allow me to go home to my family, I promise I will not let you down and I will make you proud.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs begged to return home to his family in an apology letter submitted to the court. (Jane Rosenberg)

Diddy could spend a maximum of 20 years behind bars, 10 years for each count he was convicted of. The prosecution recommended 135 months (just over 11 years) for his sentencing.

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Judge Subramanian rejected Diddy’s request for a new trial and the rapper’s demand for an acquittal days before his scheduled sentencing.

The federal judge said the prosecution provided “overwhelming evidence” of Diddy’s guilt on the charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Fox News Digital’s Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.

Tracy Wright is an entertainment reporter for Fox News Digital. Send story tips to Tracy.Wright@fox.com.

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October 2, 2025
Diddy planning unconventional move in court ahead of sentencing for prostitution charges

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Sean “Diddy” Combs will be allowed to appear in non-prison clothing as he addresses Judge Arun Subramanian at his sentencing hearing on Oct. 3.

His court address will be the first time he’s spoken about the charges he was convicted on, as Diddy chose not to testify during the eight-week trial.

“The sentencing proceeding holds significant importance for Mr. Combs,” a letter filed on behalf of Diddy and obtained by Fox News Digital read. “He wishes to appear before the Court, address Your Honor, and allocute in the most dignified and respectful fashion possible.”

“The requested Order will facilitate that desire, as ‘[c]riminal defendants, like any other party appearing in court, are entitled to enter the courtroom with their heads held high.’”

DIDDY’S LAST-DITCH LEGAL MOVES SHUT DOWN BY JUDGE DAYS BEFORE SENTENCING

Sean “Diddy” Combs will speak for the first time in court at his sentencing hearing on Oct. 3. (Jane Rosenberg)

A jury convicted Diddy on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution on July 2. The “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper was acquitted of his most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

Diddy could spend a maximum of 20 years behind bars, 10 years for each count he was convicted of. The prosecution recommended 135 months (just over 11 years) for his sentencing.

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Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. (Gareth Cattermole)

Judge Subramanian rejected Diddy’s request for a new trial and the rapper’s demand for an acquittal days before his scheduled sentencing.

The federal judge said the prosecution provided “overwhelming evidence” of Diddy’s guilt on the charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.

“The government proved its case many times over,” the federal judge wrote in his opinion obtained by Fox News Digital. “That by itself might be enough to dispose of Combs’s challenge. But the other factors don’t do much to help Combs either.”

Diddy was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering on July 2. (Jane Rosenberg)

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The prosecution claimed Diddy deserves a “substantial” prison sentence because the rapper is “unrepentant” in the sentencing recommendation filed Tuesday.

“Incredibly, while the defendant conceded his acts of violence and abuse throughout trial, he now argues that his victims should shoulder the blame,” the filing read.

The prosecution has recommended Sean “Diddy” Combs be sentenced to 135 months behind bars. (Jane Rosenberg)

Diddy’s legal team proposed a 14-month sentence ahead of his Oct. 3 hearing for federal charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. The “I Need A Girl” rapper has already spent 13 months behind bars.

Combs’ lawyers claimed the musician had been “sufficiently punished” for his crimes.

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October 2, 2025
Former stylist for Sean

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In his first TV interview, a former stylist for Sean “Diddy” Combs told “CBS Mornings” he feared for his life the “whole time” he worked for the music mogul – from around 2008 to 2018.

Deonte’ Nash, who testified against Combs at his federal criminal trial earlier this year, filed a lawsuit last week alleging Combs physically and sexually abused him for years. Combs vehemently denies the allegations.

“I said, ‘He’s going to kill us.’ He is going to kill us,” Nash told CBS News’ Jericka Duncan in an interview airing Friday on “CBS Mornings.”

Nash’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles against Combs and his record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, states that Nash “personally experienced sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse at the hands of Defendants during his ten-year employment,” including “forced tests of loyalty and manipulation, sexual harassment and sexual assaults, physical violence and manhandling, labor trafficking, threats of harm, and threats of death.” He’s seeking general and compensatory damages as well as punitive damages in the case.

Combs’ attorney Erica Wolff rejected Nash’s claims and said his complaint was “riddled with falsehoods and stands in stark contrast to the record” established in court.

“Mr. Nash’s tabloid-style accusations are insulting not only to Mr. Combs, but also to the countless individuals who worked honorably and professionally within his companies,” Wolff said in a statement. “In court, the truth will prevail, as it did in his criminal trial: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone—adult or minor, man or woman. Mr. Combs looks forward to clearing his name again in a court of law where truth matters.”

Nash, who began working for Combs at 21 years old, said it felt normal for him to prepare for things to turn dark at any point, alleging he even packed a to-go bag filled with clothes and shoes and had cash on hand in case he had to go into hiding.

“Who are we going to tell? Like who exactly were we going to tell? Who are we going to call? Ghostbusters?” asked Nash, shaking his head. “There was no one there to save us.”

Combs, who has been locked up in a Brooklyn federal jail for nearly 13 months, is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday after being found guilty in July of two counts of prostitution-related charges. Prosecutors are seeking a more than 11-year prison term, while Combs’ defense team is asking for no more than 14 months, arguing that he’s already served enough time behind bars.

Jericka Duncan

Jericka Duncan is a national correspondent and anchor of the “CBS Weekend News.” She’s based in New York City.

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October 2, 2025
Ex-stylist for Sean

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Deonte’ Nash, a former stylist for Sean “Diddy” Combs, shares details from his lawsuit against the music mogul in an exclusive “CBS Mornings” interview airing on Friday.

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October 2, 2025
Prosecutors want Sean

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New York — Prosecutors urged a New York federal judge Tuesday to send Sean “Diddy” Combs to prison for over 11 years following his conviction on prostitution-related charges, citing one of his accusers who said she lives in fear of the music mogul’s release from detention.

“His crimes of conviction are serious and have warranted sentences over ten years in multiple cases for defendants who, like Sean Combs, engaged in violence and put others in fear,” they wrote in a presentence submission requesting at least 11 years and three months in prison.

They filed their sentencing recommendation shortly after midnight, including letters from some of his accusers describing how his violence and demands had impacted their lives.

Prosecutors called Combs “unrepentant” and said Combs had conceded his acts of violence and abuse throughout his trial but “incredibly … he now argues that his victims should shoulder the blame.”

Combs, 55, has remained jailed since his July conviction on charges related to arranging male sex workers to travel to hotels or residences where he directed them to have sex with his girlfriends.

The elaborate dayslong, drug-fueled sexual events were often filmed by Combs. Defense attorneys have asked that he be sentenced to no more than 14 months in prison. Sentencing is set for Friday. The music mogul had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges brought against him.

In July, Combs was convicted of two charges for violating the Mann Act, which outlaws interstate commerce related to prostitution, for arranging the paid sexual encounters between his girlfriends and male sex workers. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The same jury acquitted the Bad Boy Records founder of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges that could have resulted in a life sentence.

Last week, the defense submitted its presentence arguments, saying Combs has suffered enough during his nearly 13 months behind bars and that he should be freed soon.

Sean “Diddy” Combs listens during a hearing over his bid to overturn his conviction on charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, at a courtroom in New York on Sept. 25, 2025, in this courtroom sketch.

Jane Rosenberg / REUTERS

They wrote that he became a changed man in a Brooklyn federal lockup, where he has been under constant suicide watch and learned to react calmly rather than violently to threats, even when a fellow inmate confronted him with a shiv.

They said Combs has realized that his overuse of drugs, including some prescribed by doctors, had contributed to violent acts he participated in.

Prosecutors said Combs was now trying to cast himself as a victim.

“He is not the victim,” they wrote. “The Court should focus on the very real effects that the defendant’s conduct had on the lives of the actual victims, his victims.”

At trial, two of Combs’ former girlfriends testified that they felt forced to participate in the drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers as Combs watched and sometimes filmed.

Ex-girlfriends tell court about treatment by Coombs

R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura described being beaten by Combs when she displeased him during their decadelong relationship. Another ex-girlfriend, testifying under the pseudonym “Jane,” said she felt pressured to perform sexually with male sex workers. She testified that an enraged Combs once put her in a chokehold and punched her in the face.

In a letter accompanying the prosecutors’ submission, Cassie wrote that she testified while nine months pregnant during Combs’ trial “in front of a packed courtroom about the most traumatic and horrifying chapter in my life. I testified that from age nineteen, Sean Combs used violence, threats, substances, and control over my career to trap me in over a decade of abuse.”

Cassie wrote that Combs controlled her like a puppet.

“These events were degrading and disgusting, leaving me with infections, illnesses, and days of physical and emotional exhaustion before he demanded it all again. Sex acts became my full-time job, used as the only way to stay in his good graces,” she said.

Cassie said she still has nightmares and flashbacks on an everyday basis and requires psychological care to cope.

“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality. I have in fact moved my family out of the New York area and am keeping as private and quiet as I possibly can because I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse at trial,” Cassie said.

The AP does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.

In an indictment, prosecutors asserted that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to force and manipulate Cassie and Jane, now-ex-girlfriends, into the sexual performances he called “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”

Judge Arun Subramanian has signaled that he is leaning toward a substantial amount of prison time, twice refusing to grant bail since the jury returned its verdict, citing Combs’ history of violence.

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September 30, 2025
Prosecutors seek over 11 years in prison for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

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Prosecutors urged a New York federal judge Tuesday to send Sean “Diddy” Combs to prison for over 11 years following his conviction on prostitution-related charges, citing one of his accusers who said she lives in fear of the music mogul’s release from detention.

“His crimes of conviction are serious and have warranted sentences over ten years in multiple cases for defendants who, like Sean Combs, engaged in violence and put others in fear,” they wrote in a presentence submission requesting at least 11 years and three months in prison.

They filed their sentencing recommendation shortly after midnight, including letters from some of his accusers describing how his violence and demands had impacted their lives.

They called Combs “unrepentant” and said Combs had conceded his acts of violence and abuse throughout his trial but “incredibly, … he now argues that his victims should shoulder the blame.”

Combs, 55, has remained jailed since his July conviction on charges related to arranging male sex workers to travel to hotels or residences where he directed them to have sex with his girlfriends.

Combs faces sentencing Friday

The elaborate dayslong, drug-fueled sexual events were often filmed by Combs. Defense attorneys have asked that he be sentenced to no more than 14 months in prison. Sentencing is set for Friday.

In July, Combs was convicted of two charges for violating the Mann Act, which outlaws interstate commerce related to prostitution, for arranging the paid sexual encounters between his girlfriends and male sex workers. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The same jury acquitted the Bad Boy Records founder of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges that could have resulted in a life sentence.

Last week, the defense submitted its presentence arguments, saying Combs has suffered enough during his nearly 13 months behind bars that he should be freed soon.

They wrote that he became a changed man in a Brooklyn federal lockup, where he has been under constant suicide watch and learned to react calmly to threats rather than violently, even when a fellow inmate confronted him with a shiv.

They said Combs has realized that his overuse of drugs, including some prescribed by doctors, had contributed to violent acts he participated in.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was convicted Wednesday on two counts of violating the Mann Act. The entertainer was acquitted on three charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking.

Prosecutors say Combs is not the victim

Prosecutors said Combs was now trying to cast himself as a victim.

“He is not the victim,” they wrote. “The Court should focus on the very real effects that the defendant’s conduct had on the lives of the actual victims, his victims.”

At trial, two of Combs’ former girlfriends testified that they felt forced to participate in the drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers as Combs watched and sometimes filmed.

R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura described being beaten by Combs when she displeased him during their decadelong relationship. Another ex-girlfriend, testifying under the pseudonym “Jane,” said she felt pressured to perform sexually with male sex workers. She testified that an enraged Combs once put her in a chokehold and punched her in the face.

In a letter accompanying the prosecutors’ submission, Cassie wrote that she testified while nine months pregnant during Combs’ trial “in front of a packed courtroom about the most traumatic and horrifying chapter in my life. I testified that from age nineteen, Sean Combs used violence, threats, substances, and control over my career to trap me in over a decade of abuse.”

Celebrities are reacting to Sean “Diddy” Combs being cleared of the most serious charges in his sex trafficking trial, including 50 Cent and Aubrey O’Day.

Cassie says she still suffers from nightmares

Cassie wrote that Combs controlled her like a puppet.

“These events were degrading and disgusting, leaving me with infections, illnesses, and days of physical and emotional exhaustion before he demanded it all again. Sex acts became my full-time job, used as the only way to stay in his good graces,” she said.

Cassie said she still has nightmares and flashbacks on an everyday basis and requires psychological care to cope.

“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality. I have in fact moved my family out of the New York area and am keeping as private and quiet as I possibly can because I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse at trial,” Cassie said.

The AP does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.

In an indictment, prosecutors asserted that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to force and manipulate Cassie and Jane, now-ex-girlfriends, into the sexual performances he called “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”

After Combs was convicted, Judge Arun Subramanian immediately refused a defense request to grant him bail.

He denied it again in August as he rejected Combs’ $50 million bail proposal, saying the hip hop impresario hadn’t proven that he did not pose a flight risk or danger, nor shown an “exceptional circumstance” after a conviction that otherwise requires detention.

Kid Cudi is breaking his silence on testifying in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial. The rapper joined Alex Cooper on the Aug. 13 episode of “Call Her Daddy” and reflected on how reluctant he was to take the stand.

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Larry Neumeister | The Associated Press

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September 29, 2025
Prosecutors seek over 11 years in prison for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

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Prosecutors urged a New York federal judge Tuesday to send Sean “Diddy” Combs to prison for over 11 years following his conviction on prostitution-related charges, citing one of his accusers who said she lives in fear of the music mogul’s release from detention.

“His crimes of conviction are serious and have warranted sentences over ten years in multiple cases for defendants who, like Sean Combs, engaged in violence and put others in fear,” they wrote in a presentence submission requesting at least 11 years and three months in prison.

They filed their sentencing recommendation shortly after midnight, including letters from some of his accusers describing how his violence and demands had impacted their lives.

They called Combs “unrepentant” and said Combs had conceded his acts of violence and abuse throughout his trial but “incredibly, … he now argues that his victims should shoulder the blame.”

Combs, 55, has remained jailed since his July conviction on charges related to arranging male sex workers to travel to hotels or residences where he directed them to have sex with his girlfriends.

Combs faces sentencing Friday

The elaborate dayslong, drug-fueled sexual events were often filmed by Combs. Defense attorneys have asked that he be sentenced to no more than 14 months in prison. Sentencing is set for Friday.

In July, Combs was convicted of two charges for violating the Mann Act, which outlaws interstate commerce related to prostitution, for arranging the paid sexual encounters between his girlfriends and male sex workers. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The same jury acquitted the Bad Boy Records founder of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges that could have resulted in a life sentence.

Last week, the defense submitted its presentence arguments, saying Combs has suffered enough during his nearly 13 months behind bars that he should be freed soon.

They wrote that he became a changed man in a Brooklyn federal lockup, where he has been under constant suicide watch and learned to react calmly to threats rather than violently, even when a fellow inmate confronted him with a shiv.

They said Combs has realized that his overuse of drugs, including some prescribed by doctors, had contributed to violent acts he participated in.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was convicted Wednesday on two counts of violating the Mann Act. The entertainer was acquitted on three charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking.

Prosecutors say Combs is not the victim

Prosecutors said Combs was now trying to cast himself as a victim.

“He is not the victim,” they wrote. “The Court should focus on the very real effects that the defendant’s conduct had on the lives of the actual victims, his victims.”

At trial, two of Combs’ former girlfriends testified that they felt forced to participate in the drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers as Combs watched and sometimes filmed.

R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura described being beaten by Combs when she displeased him during their decadelong relationship. Another ex-girlfriend, testifying under the pseudonym “Jane,” said she felt pressured to perform sexually with male sex workers. She testified that an enraged Combs once put her in a chokehold and punched her in the face.

In a letter accompanying the prosecutors’ submission, Cassie wrote that she testified while nine months pregnant during Combs’ trial “in front of a packed courtroom about the most traumatic and horrifying chapter in my life. I testified that from age nineteen, Sean Combs used violence, threats, substances, and control over my career to trap me in over a decade of abuse.”

Celebrities are reacting to Sean “Diddy” Combs being cleared of the most serious charges in his sex trafficking trial, including 50 Cent and Aubrey O’Day.

Cassie says she still suffers from nightmares

Cassie wrote that Combs controlled her like a puppet.

“These events were degrading and disgusting, leaving me with infections, illnesses, and days of physical and emotional exhaustion before he demanded it all again. Sex acts became my full-time job, used as the only way to stay in his good graces,” she said.

Cassie said she still has nightmares and flashbacks on an everyday basis and requires psychological care to cope.

“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality. I have in fact moved my family out of the New York area and am keeping as private and quiet as I possibly can because I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse at trial,” Cassie said.

The AP does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.

In an indictment, prosecutors asserted that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to force and manipulate Cassie and Jane, now-ex-girlfriends, into the sexual performances he called “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”

After Combs was convicted, Judge Arun Subramanian immediately refused a defense request to grant him bail.

He denied it again in August as he rejected Combs’ $50 million bail proposal, saying the hip hop impresario hadn’t proven that he did not pose a flight risk or danger, nor shown an “exceptional circumstance” after a conviction that otherwise requires detention.

Kid Cudi is breaking his silence on testifying in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial. The rapper joined Alex Cooper on the Aug. 13 episode of “Call Her Daddy” and reflected on how reluctant he was to take the stand.

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Larry Neumeister | The Associated Press

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September 29, 2025
What’s Going On With Diddy’s Request To Get His Charges Dropped Before Sentencing? (EXPLAINED)

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Next week, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will be sentenced for two prostitution-related convictions. On Thursday (September 25), his lawyers made their last bid to get Judge Arun Subramanian to toss out the convictions. In response, the judge said he’ll rule “very shortly.” However, late Friday afternoon, there was still no word. While we wait for Subramanian’s final ruling, here’s what to know about Combs’ upcoming sentencing and his defense’s uphill battle to get him free!

RELATED: Yung Miami, Dana Tran, Stevie J, Diddy’s Kids & Others Submit Character Statements Ahead Of His Sentencing (SEE HERE)

Diddy’s Defense vs. The Prosecution

For context, Diddy is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3 in Manhattan. He’s convicted of arranging interstate travel for people engaged in prostitution. The jury previously acquitted him of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. Those dropped charges saved him from the potential penalty of life in prison.

During the oral arguments on Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said the prosecution against Combs showed the necessity of fighting prostitution because of the violence, drugs, and sexually transmitted diseases that often accompany it.

Prosecutors said Combs paid for and arranged hundreds of drug-fueled sexual marathon performances between male sex workers and his girlfriends. As previously reported, two women–Cassie and Jane Doe–testified about being beaten and kicked by Combs.

However, Shapiro argued that Sean Combs cannot be held responsible for financing and helping to arrange the transportation domestically and internationally for 15 years. On the other hand, Slavik said the jury verdict should stand because the charges were brought correctly.

Days before Thursday’s hearing, Diddy’s defense claimed he’s suffered enough, including a threat to his life and intense surveillance. They claimed he hasn’t had fresh air and sun on his skin in almost 13 months, and that he has a limp due to a needed knee surgery. Additionally, his defense said he is sometimes given food with maggots. Overall, the defense portrayed Sean Combs as a changed and “humbled” man, who is sober for the first time in 25 years.

How Does The Judge Plan To Rule?

Judge Subramanian listened to nearly 90 minutes of lawyers’ arguments about whether prosecutors properly brought charges against Diddy. Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro urged the judge to toss out two violations of the Mann Act that resulted in convictions. Shapiro said the “infamous law” had “racist and sexist origins” that are “well documented and beyond dispute.”

“The whole history of the statute is really, I would submit, an embarrassment to the United States of America,” Alexandra Shapiro said.

Before the trial, Judge Arun Subramanian declined to throw out Diddy’s charges. According to the Associated Press, Subramanian sometimes sounded skeptical as Shapiro pressed her arguments that Diddy was improperly convicted.

Late Thursday, the judge seemed focused on the sentencing going forward. At one point, he explained why he forced Sean Combs to wear his prison uniform to the latest hearing. Additionally, he said defense lawyers had failed to explain why Combs would need civilian clothing in court when no jury was present. The judge also said there was no legal precedent that would allow that.

“The Court will entertain an application relating to the sentencing proceeding, but it needs to provide some explanation along these lines,” the judge wrote.

Combs will have been jailed for nearly 13 months by the time sentencing arrives. In court papers submitted this week, his lawyers argued that he should be sentenced to no more than 14 months in prison. With credit for good behavior, that would mean he would be released immediately.

Meanwhile, prosecutors have said he should spend several more years behind bars. However, they won’t submit their sentencing recommendations to the judge until next week. Judge Subramanian has suggested that he, too, is leaning toward a substantial amount of prison time. He twice refused to grant bail since July, citing Combs’ history of violence. Subramanian has denied bail for the Bad Boy Records founder twice since his conviction in July.

How Was Diddy Acting In Court?

As he entered the courtroom, a smiling Diddy waved to his supporters and touched his heart before taking his seat among several lawyers. He did not speak during the hearing except to greet the judge. At the end of the hearing, Combs blew kisses to his family, which included his mom, three daughters and three sons.

“Thank you all for coming. I love you all so much,” he said. “Every hour, every day, is me getting closer to going home.” He also told them: “I’ve got some big plans for us.”

In a presentence submission this week, defense lawyers said Sean Combs’ family has suffered since his arrest, including financially from the loss of business possibilities.

RELATED: Whew! Saucy Santana Gets Real About Yung Miami And The Backlash She Received Over Dating Diddy (VIDEO)

Associated Press Writer Liseberth Guillaume contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.

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September 26, 2025
Sean “Diddy” Combs returns to court for hearing that could help determine how long he’ll stay in prison

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Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers to argue for immediate release in pre-sentencing hearing

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers to argue for immediate release in pre-sentencing hearing

01:51

Sean “Diddy” Combs waved to his supporters as he appeared in court again Thursday morning, where a hearing took place to help determine how long the Grammy-winning producer will remain in prison. Combs has been detained in New York City since his arrest in September 2024.

Judge Arun Subramanian then began listening to arguments from lawyers on points of law that could help him decide a sentence for the Bad Boy Records founder, who was convicted of prostitution-related charges in July.

Combs, 55, will have been jailed for nearly 13 months when he is sentenced Oct. 3.

His lawyers argued in court papers submitted this week that he should be sentenced to no more than 14 months in prison. With credit for good behavior, that would mean he would be released immediately.

Prosecutors have said they believe he should spend at least several more years behind bars, although they haven’t submitted their sentencing recommendations to the judge yet.

The judge has signaled that he, too, is leaning toward a substantial amount of prison time, twice refusing to grant bail since the jury returned its verdict, citing Combs’ history of violence.

Combs was convicted of arranging interstate travel for people engaged in prostitution, two counts that each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but acquitted of the more severe racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges that could have resulted in a lifetime sentence. Prosecutors said during the trial that Combs had arranged for paid sexual encounters between male sex workers and his girlfriends, some of whom testified about being beaten, kicked and choked by him.

The music mogul pleaded not guilty to all of the charges brought against him.

Prosecutors said in the wake of the jury’s guilty verdict that Combs should receive at least 51 to 63 months imprisonment on the two convictions, which would equate to approximately four to five years. They later indicated that they would recommend a longer sentence.

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September 25, 2025
Former stylist for Sean

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A former stylist for Sean “Diddy” Combs — who testified against the disgraced music mogul in his federal criminal trial earlier this year — filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing Combs of sexual abuse and violence while he was in Combs’ employ.

The 37-page lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Deonte Nash against Combs and Combs’ label, Bad Boy Entertainment, also accuses Combs of sexual battery, human trafficking and false imprisonment.

According to the lawsuit, Nash said he was hired to be Combs’ stylist around 2008, at the age of 21, and worked for him until about 2018. Nash said that during that time period, he also worked as a stylist and creative director for Combs’ then-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassandra Ventura, who also accused Combs of sexual abuse in a 2023 lawsuit and gave graphic testimony against him in his trial.

“Nash personally experienced sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse at the hands of Defendants during his ten-year employment,” including “forced tests of loyalty and manipulation, sexual harassment and sexual assaults, physical violence and manhandling, labor trafficking, threats of harm, and threats of death,” the lawsuit against Combs reads.

The lawsuit alleges that Nash was sexually assaulted by Combs on “multiple occasions.”

Nash said the alleged abuse prompted him to resign in 2018, but Combs “continued to threaten Mr. Nash after his employment ended.”

CBS News has reached out to Combs’ attorneys for comment on the lawsuit.

In one incident that Nash claims occurred in 2013 or 2014, Combs discovered that Nash and Ventura had gone out to dinner in L.A. without Combs’ permission. The following day, the lawsuit states, Combs “threw” Nash “onto the car and violently strangled him.”

On another occasion in 2014, Combs and his security team allegedly entered Nash’s home without permission, during which they “confiscated Mr. Nash’s keys and phone while they forcibly searched the house” for Ventura, the lawsuit says.

“After enduring years of abuse, I finally found the courage during the criminal trial, and I am now ready to take action,” Nash said in a statement. “Sean Combs has never taken accountability for the years of harm he inflicted on me and so many others.”

In July, following a lengthy trial, the 55-year-old Combs was found guilty of two counts of prostitution-related charges, but acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3.

During the trial, Ventura testified that she was repeatedly physically and sexually abused by Combs over the course of their relationship. She testified about a 2016 incident, which was caught on surveillance video, that showed Combs violently assaulting her in the hallway of a California hotel.

Nash also testified in the trial that Combs threatened Ventura and that he “would beat her.”

Nash testified about a time when Combs allegedly grabbed a sleeping Ventura by the hair and started hitting her “pretty hard.” Nash said Ventura’s head hit a bed frame and started bleeding, and Combs then told her, Nash and an assistant, “Look what y’all made me do.”

Nash testified he dialed 911 but was told to hang up. He said he feared retaliation but did tell some of Combs’ employees about the alleged abuse and told jurors Combs got physical with him a few times.

During the trial, Combs’ attorneys denied the sexual abuse allegations brought by Ventura against their client, and argued that while evidence showed Combs may have lived a party lifestyle, they claimed he did not engage in racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking.

Nash’s lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages and demands a jury trial.

Alice Gainer

contributed to this report.

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Faris Tanyos

Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast.

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September 24, 2025