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U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced Sean Combs to 50 months behind bars.
Prosecutors had sought an 11-year, three-month prison term for his Mann Act conviction, while the defense was aiming for a 14-month sentence, which would have amounted to time served.
Combs, 55, was taken into custody in September last year so he’ll have more than a year of credit toward his incarceration.
The judge also fined Combs $500,000 and ordered five years of supervised release once Combs leaves prison.
The judge who sent Combs away for multiple years behind bars encouraged the disgraced artist to make the most of his second chance.
“Being a champion and uplifting Black and brown communities — that’s what you set out to do at the beginning of your career decades ago,” Subramanian told the defendant.
“Your letter said you lost your way but there’s a true path to redemption here: What went wrong and what can be made right.”
The judge told Combs he was “counting on you to making the most of that second chance.”
Judge Arun Subramanian described the two women at the center of Combs’ conviction as “brave survivors” who gave others a voice.
“Jane and Cassie Ventura have been through abuse and trauma we couldn’t imagine,” he said, adding: “I can only say your families are proud of you and your children will be proud of you for coming to the court to tell you what really happened. You weren’t just talking to the jury, you were talking to the women who feel powerless.”
When the sentence was read, Combs showed little emotion in court. He looked at the judge and then looked down. Combs shook his head when judge was talking about Cassie Ventura’s impact in the case. When the judge talked about the impact on the kids, Combs also shook his head.
Afterwards Combs turned towards his family and tapped his heart. He said to his children and his mother “I love you, I’m sorry.” Then he said “I’ll be ok” as he gathered his papers and walked out with the marshals.
As the judge explained his reasoning for Combs’ 50 month sentence, several members of Combs’ family were in tears, including his eldest daughter, while others looked to one another for a sense of direction.
Aside from the few tears and glances, Combs’ family and friends largely compiled with the courtroom rules, withholding verbal reactions to the verdict.
The lawyer for Combs victim Cassie Ventura said the 50-month sentence reflects the “serious offenses” committed by the music icon.
“While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognizes the impact of the serious offenses he committed,” her attorney Douglas Wigdor said in a statement.
“We are confident that with the support of her family and friends, Ms. Ventura will continue healing, knowing that her bravery and fortitude have been an inspiration to so many.”
NBCNEWS
