Diddy faces sentencing as prosecutors seek 11 years, defense asks for 14 months

Sean "Diddy" Combs faces sentencing in New York as prosecutors seek 11 years while defense pushes for 14 months

Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to a New York courtroom on Friday for his sentencing hearing, following his conviction in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act.

Each charge carries up to ten years in prison, and the case has drawn international attention.

Prosecutors have urged Judge Arun Subramanian to impose an 11-year sentence, arguing that Combs inflicted long-term harm on his victims and should serve time consistent with federal sentencing standards. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Slavik told the court that Combs had not fully accepted responsibility, stating, “His victims don’t have the luxury of moving on so easily. They’re still picking up the pieces.”

The defense, meanwhile, is pushing for a far lighter term of 14 months, essentially time served. Combs’s attorneys described him as “humbled” and “broken,” arguing that incarceration has already transformed him. His legal team presented a video montage highlighting his philanthropic work, while his children delivered emotional pleas, calling him a changed man deserving of mercy.

Letters to the court painted contrasting pictures. Ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura recalled trauma from “freak-offs” organized by Combs, citing ongoing psychological harm. Defense supporters, including a preacher and longtime associates, urged the judge to consider his influence as a cultural figure and his rehabilitation efforts.

Judge Subramanian noted that he may weigh acquitted conduct, including allegations of violence, when determining the final sentence. He also suggested that sentencing guidelines point to a range of 70 to 87 months, or roughly six to seven years.

The official sentence is expected soon, with national attention focused on whether Combs will receive the prosecution’s requested 11 years, the defense’s 14 months, or a guideline-based middle ground.