Sean "Diddy" Combs, the once-celebrated hip-hop mogul and music entrepreneur, now faces more than four years behind bars after a federal conviction that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. On October 3, 2025, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian handed down a sentence of four years and two months in prison, along with a $500,000 fine, following Combs’ conviction for transporting people across state lines for sexual encounters—a violation of the federal Mann Act. The verdict capped a sensational trial in Manhattan that exposed years of alleged abuse, manipulation, and violence, forever altering the public image of the 55-year-old star.
Combs’ legal team, however, is far from conceding defeat. In exclusive interviews with ABC News and other outlets, his attorneys have made it clear they plan to appeal, arguing that the judge unfairly considered conduct for which Combs was acquitted. “The jury made it very clear in their verdict that they acquitted him of the sex trafficking and the RICO counts,” said lead attorney Teny Geragos. “Not guilty means not guilty.” Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo echoed this sentiment to The New York Post, stating, “Both the guidelines calculation and the sentence took account of conduct for which Mr. Combs was acquitted by a jury. We contend this amounts to legal error.”
Combs’ conviction in July 2025 centered on allegations that he flew girlfriends and male sex workers around the country for drug-fueled sexual encounters—acts the government argued crossed the line into criminality under the Mann Act. The century-old law, originally aimed at curbing prostitution, makes it illegal to transport someone across state lines for the purpose of prostitution or other illegal sex acts. Combs’ lawyers have insisted the law was misapplied in this case, contending it criminalized what they described as “consensual conduct.” Defense attorney Jason Driscoll argued, “The law was misapplied.”
Yet, the trial was about far more than legal technicalities. Over nearly two months, jurors heard harrowing testimony from women who accused Combs of a pattern of violence, coercion, and abuse. Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend and a key witness, told jurors that Combs ordered her to have “disgusting” sex with strangers hundreds of times during their decade-long relationship. Jurors also saw a video of Combs dragging and beating Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway—footage his own defense team called “the worst thing in the case.” Another woman, identified as “Jane,” testified she was pressured into sex with male workers during drug-fueled “hotel nights” while Combs watched and sometimes filmed. The Associated Press noted that the trial included graphic testimony from multiple women about “freak-off” sex sessions fueled by drugs and alcohol.
Despite the graphic and damning testimony, the jury ultimately acquitted Combs of the most serious charges—sex trafficking and racketeering—which could have resulted in a life sentence. Prosecutors had sought more than 11 years in prison, but Combs’ lawyers argued for his immediate release, citing his year already served and his expressions of remorse and commitment to sobriety. On the eve of sentencing, Combs wrote to the judge, proclaiming himself to be “a new man after realizing he was broken to my core.” During sentencing, his lawyers played a video highlighting his family life, career, and philanthropy, and Combs wept openly in court.
Judge Subramanian, however, was not swayed by the appeals for leniency. Emphasizing the repeated nature of Combs’ crimes and violence towards his former partners, the judge declared, “The court is not assured that if released, these crimes would not be committed again.” He added that the sentence should serve as a message to other survivors of domestic abuse that “violence against women is met with real accountability.” Prosecutor Christy Slavik argued that sparing Combs serious prison time would excuse years of violence, while key witnesses urged the court to reject leniency, expressing ongoing fears for their safety if Combs were freed.
Combs’ legal team remains adamant that the judge overstepped by basing the sentence on conduct for which their client was acquitted. “That was totally inconsistent with the jury verdict. The Judge acted as a 13th juror,” said attorney Alexandra Shapiro, who will lead Combs’ appeal. “The sentence was driven by the conduct the jury rejected. The jury acquitted Mr. Combs of any coercion.” Geragos, meanwhile, insisted, “We accept the domestic violence. We take ownership of it, and we accept responsibility for it. We said that from day one. I said that over and over and over again myself in the trial, but domestic violence is not what he was convicted of.”
Shapiro further argued that the lengthy sentence undermines the goal of rehabilitation. “What is the point of more incarceration for a person like Mr. Combs? He really should be on a path to rehabilitation. He should be able to get treatment. He should be able to start giving back in a way that I think he is uniquely positioned to do, and it seems just senseless to keep him in prison for years more,” she said. Between his time in prison, the damage to his reputation, professional harm, and a flood of civil lawsuits, Shapiro contends that Combs has been punished enough. “That message has been sent in spades. Mr. Combs’ life has been destroyed by all of this, and additional incarceration isn't needed to send a message against domestic violence.”
Combs has already spent about a year behind bars at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his 2024 arrest, but it remains uncertain where he will serve the remainder of his sentence. A transfer to a low-security federal correctional institution near his Miami mansion is possible, but not confirmed. There is no parole in the federal system, so Combs could be released in about three years, with credit for time served.
The fallout from Combs’ conviction extends far beyond the criminal case. The trial and its revelations have sparked a wave of civil litigation, with court records showing that Combs faces nearly 70 active civil suits nationwide, alleging sexual assault, battery, harassment, and emotional abuse. The deluge began in 2023 when Ventura sued Combs for rape and abuse, settling for $20 million within 24 hours. The case emboldened dozens more accusers, including former assistants, producers, and industry insiders, to come forward with similar claims. The legal battles are expected to continue for years, even as Combs remains incarcerated, with legal experts estimating he has already spent $15 million on his federal defense alone.
The cultural impact of the case has also been profound. The details—such as the seizure of 1,000 bottles of baby oil during a federal raid—have become fodder for late-night talk shows and social media, turning Combs into both a punchline and a cautionary tale. Fellow celebrities have faced scrutiny for their past associations with Combs, though none have been implicated in the criminal allegations.
As the appeals process gears up, the story of Sean “Diddy” Combs stands as a stark reminder of how swiftly reputations can unravel and how the justice system grapples with the complexities of celebrity, power, and accountability in the modern era.
