Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentencing live updates: Combs gets 50 months in prison

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for his conviction on two prostitution-related offenses.

Before Judge Arun Subramanian announced Combs’ sentence, he emphasized the repeated nature of Combs’ crimes and violence towards his former partners.

He noted that even after Cassie Ventura filed his lawsuit and Combs issued an apology, the rap mogul continued to behave violently towards Jane.

Subramanian directly quoted a portion of “Jane”’s testimony about a violent evening when Combs allegedly forced her into a “freak-off” after attacking her -- an interaction that took place months before Combs was arrested in New York.

“The court is not assured that if released these crimes would not be committed again,” the judge said.

Subramanian said his sentence should hopefully send a message to other survivors of domestic abuse that “violence against women is met with real accountability.”

The judge also acknowledged Combs’s business success and impact on the Black community.

“I have considered the fact that you are a self-made artist and businessman who has inspired and lifted up communities,” the judge said. “Your work history, impact on the Black community, and entrepreneurship are celebrated and iconic.”

He also commended Combs for getting sober.

“The court also notes you have had problems with addiction,” he said. “The court understands those drugs may have exacerbated your violent behavior over the years.”

However, the judge said that “a history of good works cannot wash away the record in this case.”

“You used that abuse to get your way, especially when it came to ‘freak-offs’ and hotel nights,” he said. “This was subjugation, and it drove both Ms. Ventura and Jane into thoughts of ending their lives. That is the reality of what happened.”

“The conduct occurred over a decade with tremendous frequency across that time period,” the judge said. “You paid for and organized these acts.”

After nearly four hours of defense arguments, prosecutor Christy Slavik attempted to refocus the sentencing hearing on the crimes for which Combs was convicted.

"The defendant very clearly knew what he was doing was wrong and illegal, and he did it anyway for 15 years," Slavik said.

Slavik tried to compare the emotional video produced by the defense team to highlight Combs’ family to the grainy security camera footage showing Combs violently attacking Cassie Ventura in 2016.

"The defendant is a master manipulator of his own image," she said. "That image is incomplete and misleading."

She argued that Combs has shown "disrespect" for the law by continuing to offend and continues to avoid accountability.

"He continued committing crimes. He violated the Mann Act. He viciously assaulted Jane," she said. "Despite what he says now, he is not a changed man now. You cannot trust his words."

The court is now taking a ten-minute break. When it reconvenes, Combs is set to address the judge.

The fifth and final lawyer to speak on behalf of Sean Combs told the judge that Combs “has genuine psychological challenges” and “his drug use was overwhelming.”

Attorney Marc Agnifilo conceded that the defense’s request for time served is “a lot,” but he argued that Combs has been punished enough, pointing to the highly publicized raids on his homes in California and Florida.

“He has been punished in maybe one of the most public ways I can think of,” Agnifilo said. “Everyone knows what happened to Sean Combs.”

Agnifilo's argument will be followed by the prosecution's rebuttal. Then Combs will address the court.

Sean Combs will devote his time trying to help other incarcerated people if the judge releases him, the rap mogul’s attorney vowed.

More than four hours into today’s sentencing, attorney Xavier Donaldson and Giovanni Sairras – the director of a Miami-based re-entry program – told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs would try to continue the motivational speaking and business training classes he began while incarcerated in Brooklyn.

"I’ve noticed that his impact is so great that it changed the lives of those in the housing unit where Mr. Combs is housed," Sairras said. "He has become an asset to the government."

Prosecutors had criticized Combs for already scheduling multiple speaking engagements this month, arguing he does not understand the gravity of the crimes he committed. According to a court filing yesterday, Combs has scheduled seven engagements in October to deliver entrepreneurship, life skills, and mentoring classes to incarcerated people.

"He doesn’t fully grapple with how his actions got him here," AUSA Christy Slavik argued. "His respect for the law is just lip service."

Donaldson responded to the criticism by arguing that Combs is just trying to be prepared and continue his rehabilitation if he gets released.

"It’s not lip service to say Mr. Combs has engagements after he gets out of jail," he said. "These are purposes that are designed to ensure Mr. Combs remains compliant."