Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sentencing: Defendant to Allocute; Victim, Cassie Ventura to Speak; Prosecutors Seek 11 Years
Sean "Diddy" Combs, convicted in July on two federal Mann Act counts and acquitted of racketeering and sex‑trafficking charges, is to be sentenced Oct. 3 before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York; prosecutors seek 135 months (11 years, 3 months) in prison and the maximum $500,000 fine while the defense urges a cap of about 14 months (or time served after roughly 13 months in custody). The judge has permitted Combs to wear non‑prison clothing and allocute, victim impact statements — including a letter and testimony from singer Cassie Ventura and a witness known as “Mia” — will be presented, and both sides have submitted extensive letters, videos and supporting materials after the court denied motions for a new trial and acquittal.
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🔍 Key Facts
- Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3 before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York.
- Federal prosecutors filed a presentence submission seeking 135 months (11 years, 3 months) in prison and a $500,000 fine, including letters from accusers describing ongoing fear and harm; prosecutors asked that victim impact statements be permitted (including about five minutes for trial witness 'Mia').
- Defense urged a cap of 14 months (noting Combs has served about 13 months), submitted mitigation materials including an apology letter and an 11+ minute family video, planned multiple speakers and to play the video at sentencing, and requested that Combs be allowed to allocute and wear non-prison clothing—requests the judge granted.
- Combs was convicted in July on two Mann Act counts (transportation to engage in prostitution) and was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex‑trafficking counts; Judge Subramanian denied motions for a new trial and for acquittal, saying the prosecution presented "overwhelming evidence" and noting the split verdict.
- Victim impact statements were filed and will be part of sentencing: singer Cassie Ventura submitted a letter saying she testified while nine months pregnant, expressing disappointment at acquittals and fear of retaliation if Combs "walks free;" other victims (including the pseudonymous 'Mia' and Victim 3, identified as Virginia Huynh) filed statements describing ongoing fear, harm, and, in one case, disagreement over whether she had been forced.
- Combs has been detained in New York (MDC Brooklyn) since his September 2024 arrest and will have been jailed nearly 13 months by the Oct. 3 sentencing; the defense argues he may be eligible for release if credited with time served.
- Letters of support were submitted on Combs' behalf, including from inmates and family members (notably Ho Wen Kwok/Miles Guo and Maribel Flaquer) praising his mentorship programs at MDC Brooklyn (called 'Free Game With Diddy') and his positive influence on other inmates.
📍 Contextual Background
- Federal prosecutors commonly resolve federal criminal charges through plea agreements, which typically result in a sentence below the statutory maximum.
- As of 2025-09-29 Harjinder Singh was being held in the St. Lucie County Jail after being denied bond on three counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations.
- As of 2025-09-29, the statutory maximum prison sentence for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization is 15 years.
- A U.S. House judiciary subcommittee held a meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina to hear from families of violent-crime victims on 2025-09-29.
- On 2025-09-25, Circuit Judge Stephen Everett denied Donna Adelson's motion for a new trial in the murder-for-hire case and rejected defense arguments that the jury verdicts were not legally justified and rested on speculation.
- Donna Adelson faced a possible life sentence for her role in the 2014 murder-for-hire killing of Daniel Markel (as of 2025-09-29).
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executes search warrants at residences and family homes as part of criminal investigations.
📰 Sources (11)
New video of Sean "Diddy" Combs filed in court paints him as family man and role model
New information:
- A new video was submitted in court portraying Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a family man and positive community influence.
- The footage was entered into the court record as part of materials ahead of his sentencing (context: mitigation/allocution).
Diddy sentencing begins as rapper faces up to 20 years behind bars
New information:
- Judge Arun Subramanian approved Combs's request to wear non‑prison clothing during sentencing.
- Defense submitted an over 11‑minute video featuring Combs's family to be played at sentencing.
- Defense provides specific allegations about MDC Brooklyn conditions (claims of constant suicide watch, limited access to clean water, food with maggots, no functioning laundry, lack of physical therapy/exercise).
- Report of family members' in‑court arrival and timing (family presence and video allocution effort described).
Sean "Diddy" Combs to be sentenced today
New information:
- Combs will speak (allocute) at the sentencing; his attorney Teny Garagos filed a letter dated Sept. 26 requesting he be allowed to speak and wear non‑prison clothes, which the judge granted.
- A trial witness who testified under the pseudonym 'Mia' will speak at sentencing after prosecutors requested she be allowed about five minutes to deliver a victim impact statement.
- Singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura submitted a court letter urging a sentence that considers victims' harms and expressing fear of retaliation if Combs 'walks free.'
- Defense counsel plans at least four team members to address the court and intends to play a video at sentencing; prosecutors requested a sentence of 135 months while defense urged a cap of 14 months with credit for time served.
Diddy crafts image of model prisoner amid fears of retaliation from victims
New information:
- Letters of support from an inmate (Ho Wen Kwok, a.k.a. Miles Guo) describing Diddy’s mentorship programs at MDC Brooklyn ('Free Game With Diddy') and efforts to run business/entrepreneurship courses for inmates.
- A mother of an inmate (Maribel Flaquer) submitted a letter crediting Diddy with positively influencing her son (named Raymond) through the mentorship course.
- An alleged victim (Virginia Huynh, identified in filings as Victim 3) wrote she cooperated with prosecutors but 'did not agree' she had been forced into prostitution, saying she felt 'pressured to feel like a victim.'
- Publicized concern from alleged victim Cassie Ventura that she fled New York fearing 'swift retribution' from Diddy or his associates.
Diddy begs judge for leniency, says God made him ‘stronger, wiser, clean, sober’
New information:
- Court-submitted apology letter contents and direct quotations (Diddy saying he is 'stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober' and taking 'full responsibility').
- Defense team formally requested a 14-month sentence in filings ahead of sentencing.
- Prosecutors seek a minimum sentence of 11 years in prison.
- Reminder and confirmation that Diddy was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and acquitted of racketeering and sex‑trafficking counts; the letter references the 2016 InterContinental hotel assault on Cassie Ventura.
Diddy planning unconventional move in court ahead of sentencing for prostitution charges
New information:
- Court will permit Sean 'Diddy' Combs to appear in non-prison clothing at his Oct. 3 sentencing.
- Diddy will address the judge and allocute for the first time regarding the convictions.
- Defense formally proposed a 14-month sentence and noted Combs has already served 13 months in custody.
Sean Combs, in custody for a year, to face sentencing on split verdict
New information:
- Victim impact statements were filed ahead of sentencing, including a statement from Cassie Ventura saying she testified while nine months pregnant and expressing disappointment at acquittals.
- Federal prosecutors explicitly requested at least 11 years and 3 months (135 months) in prison and sought a $500,000 fine—the maximum legal penalty.
- Defense requested a sentence of no more than 14 months; documents confirm Combs has been in custody in Brooklyn since September 2024 and may be eligible for release with time served.
- The article notes Combs intends to allocute (address the court) at sentencing.
Diddy’s last-ditch legal moves shut down by judge days before sentencing
New information:
- U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian denied Sean 'Diddy' Combs' motions for a new trial and for an acquittal.
- Judge Subramanian wrote the prosecution provided 'overwhelming evidence' and referenced the jury's split verdict in rejecting spillover‑prejudice claims.
- Prosecution recommended 135 months in its sentencing submission; defense proposed a 14‑month sentence and noted Combs has already served about 13 months.
Prosecutors seeking an 11-year prison sentence for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
New information:
- Prosecutors filed a presentence submission asking for at least 11 years and three months in prison.
- Prosecutors included letters from accusers describing ongoing fear and the effects of Combs' conduct.
- Article reiterates Combs' July conviction on two Mann Act counts and notes he has remained jailed since conviction; defense seeks 14 months or immediate release.
Sean "Diddy" Combs returning to court ahead of sentencing
New information:
- Defense lawyers will argue for Combs' immediate release at a pre‑sentencing hearing scheduled for Thursday.
- Prosecutors have not yet filed their formal sentencing recommendations with the court (per the CBS report).
- Combs has been detained in New York City since his September 2024 arrest and will have been jailed nearly 13 months by the Oct. 3 sentencing date.
Sean "Diddy" Combs has served enough time in prison, defense tells judge
New information:
- Defense sentencing memo filed Monday urges a cap of 14 months for Combs’ two Mann Act convictions.
- Sentencing is set for Oct. 3 before Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York.
- Each Mann Act count carries up to 10 years; Combs was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
- Judge previously rejected a $50 million bail package; prosecutors are expected to seek a longer sentence than 4–5 years.