Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to over four years in prison following a day-long court hearing in Manhattan on Thursday. The sentencing concludes a civil lawsuit alleging years of sexual assault and abuse.
The case, brought by ex-girlfriend Cassandra “cassie” Ventura in November 2023, detailed allegations of rape, coercive control, and physical abuse spanning decades. While Combs maintained his innocence, he settled the lawsuit with Ventura the same day, and the subsequent inquiry led to the criminal charges and ultimately, today’s sentencing. The outcome sends a message about accountability for abuse and exploitation,impacting victims and setting a precedent for similar cases. Combs now faces an uncertain future, with the location of his imprisonment still to be persistent, though the judge expressed hope he would continue work begun while detained.
Prosecutors detailed a pattern of abuse during the hearing, characterizing it as “consistent, casual even, but life-altering” for the victims. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Slavik argued that Combs’ crimes were “serious” and that “victims matter,” urging the court to punish those who “abuse, exploit, and manipulate.”
Slavik also criticized Combs for scheduling speaking engagements for the week following the hearing, calling it ”the height of hubris.” Combs’ lawyer, Xavier Donaldson, countered that the engagements were planned for combs to continue teaching inmates, a practice he’d begun during his recent detention. A representative from a Miami nonprofit focused on re-entry for convicted citizens also expressed interest in collaborating with Combs to expand his leadership and business curriculum.
Judge Subramanian acknowledged the potential for Combs to continue positive work with inmates during his prison sentence, but ultimately imposed the over four-year term. The location of where Combs will serve his sentence remains unclear.
