Diddy on Trial: Sean Combs learns his fate

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This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers.

Sean “Diddy” Combs learned his fate today. The fallen hip-hop mogul was sentenced to more than four years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, bringing an end to one of the most dramatic celebrity legal sagas in recent memory.

Let’s quickly revisit the basics of the case. The prosecution accused Diddy of orchestrating a violent criminal enterprise and forcing women and male escorts to participate in marathon, drug-fueled “freak offs.” Three months ago, following a seven-week trial, Diddy was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted on more serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

Today’s emotionally charged hearing spanned more than five hours and featured tearful pleas for leniency. Here’s how the proceedings unfolded:

— In a blow to Diddy’s defense team, Judge Arun Subramanian said he would consider “acquitted conduct” in fashioning his sentence. Subramanian also ruled that Diddy would not get the benefit that comes with taking responsibility for his crimes. The judge argued that the Grammy-winning rapper “did not express remorse” for his prostitution convictions, which he said was “flatly inconsistent with reality and his accepting responsibility.”