Entertainment Deputy Editor
Pius Imafidon
Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to be sentenced on Friday, October 3, following his conviction on federal charges related to the transportation of individuals to engage in prostitution.
Federal prosecutors have asked Judge Arun Subramanian to impose a sentence of at least 11 years and three months in prison, citing the gravity of the offenses. However, Combs’ defense team has urged for a much lighter punishment—no more than 14 months—arguing that the 55-year-old music icon has already spent several months behind bars since his September 2024 arrest.
Legal experts believe Combs’ sentence is likely to fall somewhere in between. Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told PEOPLE that the government’s request exceeds the statutory maximum for the prostitution counts and predicts a sentence closer to four or five years. “If the judge wanted to release him on bail after the verdict, he would have. The fact that Combs is still detained signals that a significant sentence is coming—perhaps not the full term, but something in the middle,” Rahmani explained.
The charges on which Combs was convicted carry a maximum penalty of 10 years each. The Probation Department has recommended a sentence of between five and seven years. Although Combs was acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges during an eight-week trial, Rahmani noted that the judge may still consider “other relevant conduct,” including evidence of violence and drug use, when determining the final sentence.
Combs’ former partner, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, also submitted a letter ahead of the sentencing, urging the court to reflect on “the many lives that Sean Combs has upended with his abuse and control.” Her testimony during trial played a central role in shaping the public’s perception of the case.
The sentencing marks a pivotal moment for one of the most influential figures in the music industry, whose career has been overshadowed by months of damaging allegations and legal troubles.
