Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentencing live updates: Combs gets 50 months in prison

A federal prosecutor urged Judge Arun Subramanian to impose a harsh sentence to punish Sean Combs not only for transporting male escorts across state lines for prostitution but also for "staggering" violence.

"The defense has tried to turn this into a minor violation in a sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle," the prosecutor, Christy Slavik, said. "It's clear: This isn't just a case about 'freak offs' or hotel nights. It's not just a case about sex. It's a case about real victims who suffered real harm at the hands of the defendant."

Slavik said Combs "did horrible things" to Cassie Ventura and to "Jane" who were in "abusive" relationships with him.

"This is not just a case about transportation for prostitution. It's a case about transportation for prostitution and violence," Slavik said.

Slavik cast doubt on Combs' sincerity when he wrote to the judge that he accepted "responsibility and accountability" for his actions, noting a character letter received that said Combs has booked speaking engagements in Miami for next week.

"That is the opposite of demonstrating respect for the law," Slavik said.

Prosecutors have urged the judge to impose a sentence of 11 years in prison. Judge Subramanian noted sentencing guidelines called for a sentence between 5 and 7 years. The judge retains discretion to vary the sentence up or down.

"Today is about accountability and justice. Accountability for the defendant, who committed serious federal crimes repeatedly over the course of 15 years, and justice for the public, including for the victims, whose lives have been shattered," prosecutor Christy Slavik said.

"It's a case about a man who did horrible things to real people to satisfy his own sexual gratification," she added. "He didn't need the money. His currency was control."

Slavik said the prosecution's recommended 11-year, 3-month sentence "reflects the conduct appropriately, is consistent with other similarly situated defendants and fully respects the jury's verdict."

Not sentencing him to significant prison time would, in effect, be allowing him to get away with years of domestic violence, Slavik said.

Judge Arun Subramanian said he does not believe Sean Combs is taking full responsibility for his prostitution-related conduct.

"Combs has challenged his factual guilt full-throatedly," Subramanian said. He said the music mogul has not demonstrated remorse for the crimes for which he was convicted.

Combs was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution in connection with another ex-girlfriend, who testified under the pseudonym "Jane."

Subramanian also said he will consider some of the conduct for which Combs was acquitted when he imposes his sentence.

Combs was found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge. He was also found not guilty of both charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.

"The court can consider acquitted conduct for any reason other than changing the guidelines range," the judge said.

While the acquitted counts cannot be considered to determine Combs' possible sentencing range, Subramanian said the testimony and evidence related to those counts are relevant context to demonstrate the force Combs used to carry out the prostitution-related crimes.

"There is no doubt that this evidence counts as coercion," he added. "There were threats of bodily harm in this case."

Subramanian also said that he plans to consider as victims in this case the seven escorts who Combs said he paid for entertainment. The judge said Combs was clearly the organizer of "freak-offs" and hotel nights and paid for the escorts, and should be responsible for the conduct.

"The definition of victim is expansive," he said.

Earlier in the hearing, prosecutors sought to push back on defense lawyers' attempt to have multiple people testify about Combs' character during the sentencing, arguing it distracts from the victims in the case.

"The defense is trying to drown out the voice of victims in favor of character witnesses," a prosecutor argued.

Subramanian will allow Combs' children and pastor to speak.

Sean Combs entered the courtroom for his sentencing hearing Friday wearing dark pants and a light-colored sweater over a white button-down. He shook hands with some of his attorneys, hugged others and gestured toward his family crammed into the second and third rows of the gallery.

"Good morning judge," Combs said when greeted by Judge Arun Subramanian.

Subramanian said he received "a lot" of materials ahead of time, including the letter from Combs himself, the video the defense intends to play and an evaluation of the 6-week course Combs taught to fellow inmates at MDC-Brooklyn.

There will be no victim impact statements after a former Combs assistant who testified under the pseudonym "Mia" bowed out.

There will be no victim impact statements read during Friday's sentencing after Combs' assistant, who testified under the pseudonym "Mia," bowed out.

"This morning the government learned 'Mia' no longer wishes to address the court here today," prosecutor Christie Slavik said, adding that a "bullying" letter from the defense was part of her reasoning.

"The tone of the defense's letter was inappropriate," Subramanian said. "That should not be done again."

In addition to Combs, two or three of his children and a pastor intend to speak ahead of the imposition of the sentence. Doctors who evaluated Combs are prepared to speak if necessary, defense attorney Brian Steel said.