New York:
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has appealed to a federal judge for leniency, submitting a four-page letter one day ahead of his sentencing on prostitution-related charges. Combs is due to be sentenced by Judge Arun Subramanian on Friday, October 3.
In his filing, Combs expressed deep remorse for his past actions, specifically referencing the assault on his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. “I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I’m sorry for that and always will be,” he wrote, assuring “full responsibility” for his actions.
Combs was convicted in June on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution following his September 2024 arrest. He was acquitted of more severe sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have resulted in a life sentence. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of more than 11 years, while his defense team has requested a sentence of no more than 14 months.
Combs also reflected on the infamous surveillance footage of his assault on Ventura, saying the images “play over and over in my head daily.” He admitted his “downfall was rooted in my selfishness” and described the last two years as the hardest of his life.
The mogul claimed that his time in prison has helped him achieve sobriety “for the first time in 25 years,” noting his participation in therapy and the launch of a six-week entrepreneurship class for fellow inmates.
Combs also cited the troubles faced by his seven children and his 84-year-old mother, who recently underwent brain surgery, as reasons for the court to grant him a shorter sentence.
“I no longer care about the money or the fame,” he concluded. “There is nothing more important to me than my family. If you give me a chance, I would like the opportunity to share my story to prevent at least one person from making the mistakes that I’ve made.”
