Sean "Diddy" Combs is set to be his sentence on Friday morning by a federal judge in New York, following his conviction earlier this 2025 on federal prostitution-related charges.
Here is a overview of his criminal case: what he was indicted for, the trial events, and potential next steps.
What Charges Was He Convicted On?
In July, following a two-month trial, a panel of jurors convicted Combs of two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was found not guilty of the more severe allegations against him, racketeering conspiracy and human trafficking, which could have resulted in the possibility of a life sentence.
The charges on which he was found guilty each have a maximum penalty of 10 years. Combs had pleaded not guilty to every count.
Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversaw the case, will deliver the sentence on the scheduled day, with the hearing set to start at 10:00 AM Eastern Time in a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan.
Combs, 55, has been detained without bond at the Brooklyn detention facility since his apprehension in the previous September. Since the decision, the court has denied two bail requests from Combs’s legal team, and earlier this week Subramanian also denied a request to set aside the guilty verdicts.
What Was Combs Facing?
Federal prosecutors alleged the music executive of leveraging his status and resources, and using violence, threats and blackmail, to coerce two of his former girlfriends into engaging in sex parties involving drugs with paid companions. Such events were often called by the accused as “hotel nights”, which they said Combs orchestrated, observed, masturbated to and occasionally recorded.
The government asserted that for more than two decades, Combs operated a criminal enterprise – aided by employees and associates – to carry out and hide offenses including sex-trafficking, drug dealing, bribery and kidnapping.
Despite being convicted on two charges, Combs has denied any misconduct. His attorneys have maintained that every encounter was mutually agreed and that no criminal enterprise was present.
What Transpired During the Trial?
The prosecution presented over thirty witnesses, including two of Combs’s former girlfriends – artist Cassie Ventura and another woman who testified under the pseudonym of “Jane” – who described the so-called “freak-offs” in graphic detail, and alleged that Combs pressured and intimidated them into taking part.
Ventura was the star prosecution witness. She stated that during her long-term relationship with Combs, he subjected her to various forms of mistreatment and to blackmail. The court was presented with the 2016 video of Combs attacking Ventura in a hallway. Jane also told the court of a physical confrontation with Combs.
Additional testimony included ex-staff, escorts, police officers, hotel staff and public figures including musician Kid Cudi and singer Dawn Richard. Combs did not testify.
Combs’s defense attorneys admitted past instances of abuse, but denied that any force or sex trafficking took place. They maintained that every sexual act was agreed upon and part of a “alternative lifestyle”, and argued that Ventura and Jane were consenting adults in the encounters.
How Much Time Might He Face?
Combs’s lawyers have asked the judge for a penalty of a maximum of 14 months in prison, which, considering time served, would permit his freedom by year's end. They claim that Combs has already been “adequately punished” by serving 13 months in the “terrible conditions” at the facility.
Federal prosecutors, however, have sought at least 135 months (over a decade) and a $500,000 fine. In legal documents, they described Combs as “showing no remorse” and said that “his history and characteristics show a pattern of misconduct.
What Statements Were Made In Victim Impact Statements?
The government filed multiple statements from victims to the court before sentencing, including one from Ventura.
“While the jury did not seem to understand or believe that I engaged in the events because of the force and coercion the accused used against me, I know that is the reality, and his sentence should account for the truth of the testimony and my personal experience as a survivor,” Ventura stated.
“I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be immediate revenge towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse, at court,” she wrote.
“If there is one thing I have gained from this experience, it is that victims and survivors will never be safe,” she continued. “I hope that your decision considers the facts at hand that the jury overlooked.”
What Happens Next?
After sentencing, Combs’s legal team could challenge the sentence. Combs’s team is also expected to contest his conviction.
Additionally, Combs faces numerous civil cases accusing him of misconduct and further offenses. He has denied all allegations in those proceedings.
