Diddy sentenced to 50 months jail term!
New York, Oct 3 (EFE).- By Alicia Sánchez Gómez
Rapper Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, was sentenced on Friday in New York to four years and two months in prison for two charges of transportation for prostitution, five years of supervised release, and a 500,000 dollar fine.
In July, Combs was acquitted of more serious charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, which could have resulted in life imprisonment.
The rapper barely reacted to the sentence, though he lowered his head and remained impassive while federal judge Arun Subramanian justified his decision.
Subramanian indicated to Combs that, while he acknowledges that Combs is an “influential” person and a self-made artist with an impact on the African-American community, he cannot ignore the fact that Combs used his power to “physically, emotionally and psychologically” abuse women.
The judge added that much of the physical violence Combs exercised against his then-girlfriends, singer Cassie Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane, occurred during sex marathons, or “freak-offs,” that the rapper orchestrated between prostitutes and his ex-partners.
“We have read about this violence, seen images of bruises and other injuries, and even a video of you brutally beating Ventura,” Subramanian told Combs.
Therefore, the sentence must be adequate for the gravity of the crimes committed and their effect on the victims, especially Ventura and Jane, who contemplated suicide, he added.
Subramanian emphasized that Combs continued to mistreat Jane and engage in “freak-offs” with her even after Ventura filed a civil lawsuit against him and the government began investigating him for sex trafficking and other crimes, despite Combs’ promise that he had changed.
Asking for forgiveness from the victims and his family
Before announcing the sentence, Combs addressed the court, and apologized to Cassie Ventura and Jane “for any emotional or physical harm” he may have caused them.
He also apologized to his family, who were in attendance, and to all victims of gender violence who saw the viral video of him brutally beating Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.
“I want to personally apologize again to Cassie Ventura for any harm or hurt that I caused to her, emotionally or physically. My actions were disgusting, shameful and sick,” Combs said.
The musician said he regretted losing his freedom, his business, the power to educate his children, his reputation and above all, his self-respect because of his actions.
“I hate myself right now. I’ve been stripped down to nothing,” the rapper said, looking directly at his relatives in the audience, unable to hold back tears.
The sentence handed down by Subramanian is greater than what his lawyers requested (14 months in prison), but Combs has already served a year in a New York penal facility, which counts toward the sentence.
During Friday’s hearing, his defense and six of his children asked the judge to give Combs “a second chance at life.” Specifically, his legal team noted that he has already been “punished” by the public.
When announcing the sentence, Subramanian told Combs and his family that they were “going to get through this, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.” EFE asg/dgp/mcd
