Disgraced American entertainment mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was sentenced on Friday (October 3) to more than four years in prison over his July 2 conviction on prostitution-related charges.

The 50-month sentence was imposed by US District Judge Arun Subramanian at a hearing in Manhattan federal court.

Facing up to 20 years behind bars, the 55-year-old was convicted on two counts of arranging for paid male escorts to travel across state lines to take part in drug-fueled sexual performances—popularly known in the entertainment industry as ‘Freak Offs’—with Combs’ girlfriends while he recorded video and masturbated.

The jury acquitted him on the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, which could have earned him a life sentence.

Those charges hinged on prosecutors’ accusation that Combs used violence and threats to coerce two of his girlfriends—the battered R&B singer Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura, and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane – to take part in the encounters.

Combs pleaded not guilty and is expected to appeal his conviction. In an address to the court before Subramanian imposed the sentence, Combs apologised to Ventura and Jane and said he had learned his lesson.

“I know I’ll never put my hands on another person again,” said Combs, who has been behind bars at a Brooklyn jail since his September 2024 arrest.

Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, is credited with elevating hip-hop’s stature in American culture.

The New York-born entrepreneur is one of the most prominent men in the entertainment industry to have faced trial on sex crimes charges.

Combs’ lawyers acknowledged he had physically abused his girlfriends, but argued they willingly took part in the sexual performances.

Defence lawyers say the appropriate sentence is 14 months, which would mean Combs would be released by the end of the year after receiving credit for time served.

Prosecutors are pushing for a sentence of at least 11-and-a-quarter years.

At the hearing, prosecutor Christy Slavik said the defence was improperly seeking to portray Combs’ conduct as a “minor consequence of a sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle,” and argued the judge should consider his abuse of his girlfriends.

“To not account for it now would be to let the defendant get away with years of domestic violence and abuse,” Slavik said.