Rapper and music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced on Friday (3) to four years and two months in prison by the United States. The verdict was read in a federal court in New York and ends a lawsuit that mobilized the country for months. In addition to the sentence, the artist will have to pay a $ 500,000 fine, maximum expected amount.
Combs was considered guilty of two charges of transportation for prostitution. The jury, however, acquitted him of the most serious complaints, such as sexual trafficking and conspiracy for extortion, which could lead him to life imprisonment. Each of the convictions had a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment.
Today’s decision happens months after the trial, which lasted eight weeks and attracted international attention. During the process, the prosecution argued that the artist was the leader of a sex trafficking scheme. However, the jurors did not convince themselves from this thesis.
The Attorney’s Office had requested a 11 -year prison sentence. Already the defense was asking for a maximum of 14 months. Judge Arun Subramanian established an intermediate time, but lower than that recommended by the court itself, which pointed to a six to seven year as appropriate.
At the time of reading the sentence, the magistrate highlighted the courage of the victims who witnessed in the trial. He classified women as “strong and courageous,” noting that their reports revealed “horrible stories” of physical, emotional and psychological abuse.
Combs did not testify during the trial, but spoke on Friday. The rapper said he was sorry and stated that “people can change.” He said he cannot change the past, but he can “change the future.” In a letter sent to the judge a day before the hearing, he also asked for mercy and associated his behavior with drug addictions.
Arrested since September 2024, the music tycoon has served just over a year of his sentence. The period will be discounted from the conviction. During the detention, all requests for freedom under bail were denied.
The case began in 2023, when singer Cassie Ventura, rapper’s ex-girlfriend, accused him of aggression, coercion and sexual trafficking. Although she has reached an agreement with the musician, the episode encouraged other complaints against Combs, which led to the opening of criminal and civil proceedings.
Diddy, now 55, built one of the most influential careers in hip hop worldwide. Owner of Bad Boy Records label, has released artists such as The Notorious Big, Mary J. Blige and Usher, as well as accumulating fortune with fashion and beverage business. Now, its trajectory is marked by one of the most reverberated convictions of the American artistic environment.
