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

Prosecutors argued Combs deserves at least 11 years in prison.

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

He gets credit for time served since his arrest. Combs has already spent 12 months at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Before the judge read the sentence, Combs tearfully apologized in court, saying, "I’ve been humbled and broken to my core."

Federal prosecutors argued Combs deserved at least 11 years in prison, while Combs' lawyers asked for a sentence of no more than 14 months.


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Combs set to address the court

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.


Combs 'has genuine psychological challenges,' defense says

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.


Advocate for Combs says he has changed lives around him while incarcerated

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."


'You are not sentencing Sean for RICO or sex trafficking,' defense says

Defense attorneys are focusing on Sean Combs' character as they argue for a light sentence.

“He is a fighter for civil liberties and equality,” defense attorney Brian Steel said.

“Mr. Combs has inspired generations and generations to follow,” defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland said. “Mr. Combs personally inspired me.”

Steel said Combs wishes to return to Miami to care for his mother, be with his children and “be used by the community” as a spokesperson for avoiding drugs and living a crime-free life.

“Sean looks in the mirror and all he sees is the pain he has given to others,” Steel said. “Sean Combs is a leader. He is a civil rights leader. His good outweighs his bad, by far.”

Steel also reinforced the central argument put forth by the defense: that “freak-offs” were consensual, and the punishment should only reflect the crimes he was convicted of.

“You are not sentencing Sean for RICO or sex trafficking,” Steel said.

Rev. Gary Johnson, a Miami pastor, urged the judge to free Combs from custody and place him in the care of his community.

“Give him to us. I’ll be personally responsible,” Johnson said.