Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs are pressing a federal judge to release the music mogul almost immediately after serving more than a year behind bars, arguing he has been "adequately punished" for his crimes and has undergone a profound personal transformation during his incarceration.
In a sentencing memorandum filed ahead of Combs' Oct. 3 hearing, his legal team asked Judge Arun Subramanian to impose no more than 14 months in prison for his conviction on two Mann Act counts related to prostitution, which would match time already served. The Bad Boy Records founder, 55, was acquitted on more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking charges that carried potential life sentences.
"Mr. Combs's career and reputation have been destroyed," the filing said. "He has served over a year in one of the most notorious jails in America - yet has made the most of that punishment." The lawyers argued the jury's verdict amounted to an "affirmative indication of innocence" on the most serious allegations and should be considered in sentencing.
Combs' legal team painted a grim picture of life at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, describing "maggot-infested food," constant violence, and conditions that left the artist without fresh air or sunlight for nearly 13 months. They said he remains on suicide watch, forced to present his ID to guards every two hours and endure round-the-clock lighting that interrupts his sleep. "While he is sleeping, he is awoken by an officer to ensure he is well," the lawyers wrote.
Defense attorneys highlighted Combs' personal progress in custody, saying he is sober "for the first time in 25 years" and has created a business management and entrepreneurship program for fellow inmates. "The education program has become one of the most impactful and important endeavors of his life," the filing stated, adding that Combs hopes to expand it to state-run facilities once free.
The memorandum also underscored the broader fallout of his arrest: more than 100 employees laid off from his businesses, the cancellation of a Hulu reality series about his family, and the loss of an honorary degree from Howard University. "His life outside of jail has been systematically dismantled," the lawyers wrote, noting that his seven children have suffered "devastating consequences."
Prosecutors are expected to submit their own recommendation calling for a substantially longer sentence, exceeding the four- to five-year range they initially considered. They have already opposed a $50 million bail package, signaling skepticism that Combs should be released before sentencing.
Combs' trial featured weeks of testimony, including accounts from former girlfriends Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura and another woman identified as "Jane," who described being coerced into sex acts with male sex workers during drug-fueled encounters that Combs sometimes filmed. Defense attorneys admitted there was domestic abuse but insisted prosecutors failed to prove the charged crimes.
His lawyers portrayed him as a man eager to turn the page. "He is a humbled man who understands that the most important things in life are his devotion to and quality time with his family and his contributions for the benefit of others," the filing said.
