By Michael R. Sisak, Larry Neumeister and Jennifer PeltzThe Related Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced Oct. 3 to 4 years and two months in jail for transporting folks throughout state strains for sexual encounters, capping a sordid federal case that featured harrowing testimony and resulted in a forceful reckoning for one of the crucial widespread figures in hip-hop.
Credit score: AP Photograph/Kathy Willens, File
Combs, 55, was additionally fined half one million {dollars}. Since Combs has served a 12 months in jail already, this sentence means he can be launched in about three years. His legal professionals wished him freed instantly and mentioned the time behind bars has already compelled his regret and sobriety.
He was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male intercourse employees across the nation to have interaction in drug-fueled sexual encounters, a apply that occurred over a few years and in numerous areas. Nonetheless, he was acquitted of intercourse trafficking and racketeering costs that would have put him behind bars for all times.
“Why did it occur so lengthy?” U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian requested as he handed down the sentence. “Since you had the facility and the sources to maintain it going, and since you weren’t caught.”
Combs confirmed no seen change of emotion as he realized his sentence, sitting in his chair and searching straight forward because the choose spoke. He remained subdued afterward and appeared dejected, with not one of the enthusiasm and smiles that accompanied his interactions with legal professionals and his household earlier within the day. He mentioned, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” to his household proper earlier than leaving the courtroom.
In a closing speech earlier than sentencing, Combs made a plea for leniency.
“I ask your honor for an opportunity to be a father once more,” Combs mentioned, “a son once more … a pacesetter in my neighborhood once more … for an opportunity to get the assistance that I desperately have to be a greater individual.”
He apologized to the folks he harm bodily and mentally together with his “disgusting, shameful” actions, and mentioned the home violence was a burden he would carry for the remainder of his life.
Earlier, Combs wept as his protection legal professionals performed a video in court docket portraying his household life, profession and philanthropy.
His practically two-month trial in a federal court docket in Manhattan featured testimony from girls who mentioned Combs beat, threatened, sexually assaulted and blackmailed them. Prosecutor Christy Slavik informed the choose that sparing Combs critical jail time would excuse years of violence.
“It’s a case a few man who did horrible issues to actual folks to fulfill his personal sexual gratification,” she mentioned. “He didn’t want the cash. His foreign money was management.”
Combs was convicted beneath the Mann Act, which bans transporting folks throughout state strains for prostitution. Protection lawyer Jason Driscoll argued the legislation was misapplied.
Throughout testimony on the trial, former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura informed jurors that Combs ordered her to have “disgusting” intercourse with strangers tons of of occasions throughout their decade-long relationship. Jurors noticed video of him dragging and beating her in a Los Angeles resort hallway after one such multiday “freak-off.
“Whereas nothing can undo the trauma brought on by Combs,” Cassie’s attorneys, Douglas Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, mentioned in a press release, “the sentence imposed at this time acknowledges the impression of the intense offenses he dedicated.”
One other lady, recognized as ” Jane,” testified she was pressured into intercourse with male employees throughout drug-fueled “resort nights” whereas Combs watched and generally filmed.
The one accuser scheduled to talk Oct. 3, a former assistant often called “Mia,” withdrew after protection objections. She has accused Combs of raping her in 2010 and requested the choose for a sentence that displays “the continuing hazard my abuser poses.”
Combs’ daughters Likelihood and D’Lila Combs cried as they spoke in court docket Oct. 3, with D’Lila saying she feared dropping her father after the loss of life of their mom, Kim Porter, in 2018. Six of Combs’ seven youngsters addressed the choose.
“Please, your honor, please,” D’Lila mentioned by way of tears, “give our household the possibility to heal collectively, to rebuild, to vary, to maneuver ahead, not as a headline, however as human beings.”
Outdoors the courthouse, journalists and onlookers swarmed, echoing scenes from Combs’ trial.
Sade Bess, a Combs fan from Brooklyn, left the court docket’s overflow remark room wanting each unhappy and relieved.
“It’s devastating to see a pioneer of the Black neighborhood’s legacy practically diminished,” she mentioned. “However the choose confirmed mercy by giving him a second probability, whereas nonetheless honoring the victims.”
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Related Press writers Liseberth Guillaume in New York and Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
