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Sean “Diddy” Combs learned his fate today. The fallen hip-hop mogul was sentenced to more than four years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, bringing an end to one of the most dramatic celebrity legal sagas in recent memory.
Let’s quickly revisit the basics of the case. The prosecution accused Diddy of orchestrating a violent criminal enterprise and forcing women and male escorts to participate in marathon, drug-fueled “freak offs.” Three months ago, following a seven-week trial, Diddy was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted on more serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.
Today’s emotionally charged hearing spanned more than five hours and featured tearful pleas for leniency. Here’s how the proceedings unfolded:
— In a blow to Diddy’s defense team, Judge Arun Subramanian said he would consider “acquitted conduct” in fashioning his sentence. Subramanian also ruled that Diddy would not get the benefit that comes with taking responsibility for his crimes. The judge argued that the Grammy-winning rapper “did not express remorse” for his prostitution convictions, which he said was “flatly inconsistent with reality and his accepting responsibility.”
— Lawyers on both sides made their most aggressive final arguments to Subramanian. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik highlighted Diddy’s history of alleged violence, saying it was “something the public must be protected from.” Nicole Westmoreland, one of Diddy’s lawyers, repeatedly fought back tears while praising her client as a barrier-breaking entrepreneur who advocated for social justice and the Black community.
— Six of Diddy’s children appealed directly to Subramanian, taking turns delivering short statements at a podium. Quincy Brown, Diddy’s eldest son, characterized his father as a “changed man” who has “learned a major lesson.” Christian Combs, his third eldest son, asked Subramanian to “please give us grace and please give him mercy.” Diddy’s daughters sobbed as they begged for leniency — and their father could be seen crying, too.
— In an extraordinary moment late in the day, Diddy addressed the courtroom. He begged Subramanian for “mercy,” apologized to two women who accused him of abuse, insisted he had “changed for the better” and pleaded for “another chance.” He sobbed as he addressed his mother, Janice Combs. “You taught me better,” he told her. “You raised me better.”
— Then, more than five hours after the hearing started, Subramanian addressed the courtroom at length. He said “the court rejects” the defense’s assertion that Diddy’s “freak offs” were consensual. “You abused the power and control with women you professed to love,” the judge said. “You abused them physically, emotionally and psychologically.” Subramanian sentenced Diddy to 50 months behind bars and imposed a fine of $500,000.
Finally, I want to thank the loyal readers who subscribed to this newsletter. Many of you sent us incisive questions and helpful feedback as the trial unfolded, and for that we are grateful. Stay tuned for updates about other newsletter offerings from our team, and sign up here to receive breaking news straight to your inbox from NBC News.
The view from inside
By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas and Katherine Koretski
The U.S. District Courthouse in lower Manhattan was packed today, with lines snaking outside the building. The tension ran high inside the courtroom as the lawyers and spectators — including Diddy’s mother — came in to take their seats.
Diddy entered just after 10 a.m., clad in a cream-colored sweater over a white button-down shirt and black pants. He hugged his lawyers, looked back toward his family members, donned reading glasses and skimmed through legal papers on the defense table. He later faced his relatives and made a heart gesture with his hands.
The hearing was frequently cut through with intense emotion. Westmoreland passionately defended her client as a generous businessman and cultural inspiration. Diddy wept as his children made their appeals to Subramanian. “I know how hard it is to stand up here,” Subramanian said to the six children in attendance, “and it is very important for me to hear.”
The dramatic peak of the proceedings: Diddy’s anguished plea for mercy. “I lost all of my businesses and lost my career and destroyed my reputation, and most of all, I lost my self-respect,” Diddy told Subramanian. “I have been humbled and broken to my core. I hate myself right now. I’ve been stripped down to nothing.”
Analysis: Not a bad day for Diddy
By Danny Cevallos
Diddy's sentence of 50 months may not sound like good news for the rap mogul, but it definitely is.
First, he gets credit for time served of 14 months, so that leaves 36 months. Plus, he can get 15% reduction for good behavior per year, so he may only have 30 additional months.
That’s a long time, but if he had been convicted of sex trafficking, his guidelines sentence could have been life, with a 10-year mandatory minimum.
