Diddy Sentenced to 50 Months in Federal Prison on Mann Act Convictions

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 50 months in prison following his conviction on two prostitution-related counts under the Mann Act. The ruling caps a closely watched case in which jurors acquitted him of the more serious racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, but found him guilty of transporting individuals across state lines for “freak-off” encounters he orchestrated and filmed.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian also ordered five years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine. Because Combs has been in custody since September 2024, the time he has already served will count toward the sentence—leaving roughly three years to complete, depending on credit calculations.

Prosecutors had pressed for a much stiffer punishment—about 135 months—arguing Combs’ conduct showed a pattern of violence and coercion that warranted a strong deterrent. The defense urged the court to impose no more than 14 months, citing his time already served, claimed rehabilitation efforts, and the jury’s rejection of the trafficking and racketeering counts. The judge ultimately landed far closer to the government’s view than the defense’s, though well below the maximum exposure.

In court, Combs delivered an emotional apology to victims and family, acknowledging “disgusting” behavior and saying he had lost his reputation and standing. Judge Subramanian, while recognizing Combs’ philanthropic work, emphasized the gravity of the underlying violence described at trial and in victim statements—remarks that included references to former partner Cassie Ventura—and said accountability was necessary.

The case turned on a narrower set of federal counts even as the public debate focused on the charges the jury rejected. That dynamic continued at sentencing, where the court—consistent with federal practice—considered some “acquitted conduct” in fashioning the punishment, a long-contested practice in federal courts that defense lawyers immediately criticized as unfair. Combs’ legal team said the judge had “acted as a 13th juror” and vowed to appeal.

From here, Combs’ path runs through the federal appellate process. His attorneys are expected to challenge both evidentiary decisions and the use of conduct not resulting in conviction at sentencing. Appeals in complex federal cases often take months or longer, and do not typically pause the custodial portion of a sentence without a successful motion for release pending appeal. In the meantime, the Bureau of Prisons will designate a facility consistent with his classification and the court’s recommendations.

The sentencing marks a dramatic fall for one of hip-hop’s best-known moguls and underscores a broader conversation about power, consent, and accountability when celebrity intersects with criminal justice. For supporters who urged leniency and for accusers who pressed for maximum penalties, the outcome was a compromise—measurably substantial prison time, but far from the decade-plus prosecutors sought.

TL;DR

A federal judge sentenced Sean “Diddy” Combs to 50 months in prison, plus five years’ supervised release and a $500,000 fine, after a jury convicted him on two Mann Act counts tied to “freak-off” encounters; he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering. Prosecutors wanted roughly 11+ years; the defense asked for 14 months. His lawyers plan to appeal, including over the court’s consideration of acquitted conduct at sentencing.