P. Diddy Combs has been fined $500,000 (£374,000) and sentenced to five years of probation following a trial concerning allegations of sex trafficking. Combs had requested a 14-month sentence, which would have allowed for an early release due to time served while awaiting trial. In contrast, prosecutors had sought a sentence exceeding 11 years.
During the sentencing hearing in September, Combs acknowledged his actions, describing them as “disgusting, shameful, and sick.” He expressed remorse and requested leniency from the judge, apologizing specifically to two women who testified against him.
Combs’s legal team indicated plans to appeal both the conviction and the sentencing decision. His arrest occurred in September 2024, and the trial attracted significant international media attention over nearly two months.
Prosecutors claimed that Combs exploited his influence in the music industry to orchestrate what they described as a sex trafficking operation, allegedly coercing his girlfriends into participating in so-called “freak-offs” with male escorts. Central to the case was testimony from singer Cassandra Ventura, who accused Combs of physical abuse and of compelling her to engage in encounters with escorts. Another witness, identified as Jane, recounted feeling pressured to take part in similar activities notwithstanding her health issues.
Ultimately, while the jury acquitted Combs of the most serious charges—sex trafficking and racketeering—they found him guilty of two counts related to transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clykzv3y9pko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss