Oct. 3 (UPI) — A federal judge on Friday sentenced Sean “Diddy” Combs to 50 months in prison on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution after the rapper, record producer and entrepreneur apologized for his actions.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan, N.Y., issued his sentence, which he described as “hard time” away from his family, after Combs, 55, was convicted of the two prostitution charges on July 2 by a jury that also acquitted him of more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
Subramanian also imposed a $500,000 fine on Combs, which is the maximum he could order. Comb has an estimated $400 million net worth.
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” the judge said. “These letters, all those letters that I saw, show that you have a universe of people who love you. Let them lift you up now, just like you’ve lifted them up for so many years.”
He also noted Comb, a self-made artist and businessman, “inspired and lifted up communities.”
The conviction and sentence can be appealed.
“Every single thing the judge says, from the minutia of his rulings to the grand statements about credibility, will be scrutinized by an appellate court,” Laura Coates, a CNN legal analyst and anchor, said.
Attorneys on both sides weighed in.
Then Combs, who has been held in custody in Brooklyn, N.Y., addressed the court after he submitted a four-page letter to the judge that included an apology to the victims.
“I ask your honor for the chance to be a father again,” he said. “I ask your honor for the chance to be a son again. I ask Your honor for the chance to be a leader in my community again. I ask your honor for a chance to get the help that I desperately need to become a better person because I don’t want to let God down, I don’t want to let my family down.”
Combs, saying he will fully comply with the sentence, added: “I don’t have nobody to blame but myself. I know I’ll never put my hands on another person again. I know that I’ve learned my lesson. I’m willing to comply with any conditions the court puts upon me. Given a chance, when we talk about the possibility of me sharing my story, it’s not just a scheme to try to get less time — it’s that this story is real, this story is tragic.”
Combs wrote Thursday in a letter: “In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them. I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused, but I understand that the mere words ‘I’m sorry’ will never be good enough as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past.”
He also spoke about his former girlfriends, ex-R&B star Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine and a woman identified as “Jane,” apologizing to them both. “I want to personally apologize again to Cassie Ventura for any harm or hurt that I caused to her, emotionally or physically. My actions were disgusting, shameful and sick,” Combs said.
He said to Jane: “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Ventura’s attorney said after the sentencing hearing: “While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognizes the impact of the serious offenses he committed. We are confident that with the support of her family and friends, Ms. Ventura will continue healing knowing that her bravery and fortitude have been an inspiration to so many.”
Combs was convicted of transporting the two women as well as sex workers for the intent of prostitution.
Fine and Jane testified in court that Combs physically abused and controlled them and had them participate in marathon drug-fueled sexual encounters with male escorts. Those sessions, which were called “freak offs,” often involved travel across state and even international boundaries.
Subramanian thanked the victims for coming forward.
“To Ms. Ventura, Jane, and the other victims here who came forward, I can only say — your families are proud of you and your children, when they’re old enough will be proud of you, and I am proud of you for telling the world what really happened,” Subramanian said.
“You were speaking to the millions of women out there who have been victims but feel invisible and powerless and had to suffer in silence. You told those women and the world that violence behind closed doors doesn’t have to stay hidden forever. The number of people who you reached is incalculable.”
Six of Combs’ seven children tearfully spoke in support of their father. One of Combs’ defense attorneys cried as she recounted how inspiring she thought he was.
The defense team submitted over 75 letters of support for Combs from friends, family members and other supporters.
The prosecution submitted six letters to the judge, including one from Ventura, whose physical assault at Combs’ hands was recorded by hotel security cameras.
The prosecution’s letters also included written pleas from Ventura’s parents and “Mia,” a former assistant who accused Combs of sexual assault.
The conviction carried a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison per count, and prosecutors argued for a sentence of at least 11 years. Combs’ defense team argued for a 14-month sentence, which would see Combs released by the end of the year, as he has been in a New York federal detention center since his arrest 13 months ago.
“I hope that your decision considers the truths at hand that the jury failed to see,” Fine wrote. “My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality.”