Diddy Asks for Leniency in Letter to Judge Ahead of Sentencing: ‘I Will Never Commit a Crime Again’

In a final effort to secure a more lenient punishment, Sean "Diddy" Combs has submitted a personal letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, who will deliver his sentence tomorrow. The four-page document from the music executive conveys profound remorse, with Combs accepting "full responsibility and accountability" for his behavior and stating he is "sincerely sorry" for the pain he caused.

Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records—a label that became synonymous with 1990s hip-hop and R&B and launched icons like The Notorious B.I.G.—acknowledged that an apology cannot erase the harm done. He wrote of being haunted daily by the memory of assaulting his former partner, singer Cassie, and attributed his personal and legal downfall to a destructive cycle of substance abuse and selfishness. He described the intense psychological strain of incarceration, noting that jail is designed to "break you mentally, physically and spiritually," and admitted to moments where he felt like giving up, even thinking he would be "better off dead." He concluded by declaring, "The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn."

The entrepreneur, who built a multi-billion dollar empire that includes his Sean John fashion line and the Cîroc vodka brand, now seeks an opportunity to redirect his life toward his family. He stressed his desire to be an involved father to his seven children and to resume his role as the main caregiver for his ailing mother. "Today, I humbly ask you for another chance—another chance to be a better father, another chance to be a better son, another chance to be a better leader in my community, and another chance to live a better life," he wrote. He assured the court his transformation is genuine and vowed he "will never commit a crime again," framing his statement not as a bid for pity but as the "truth of my existence."

This appeal comes after a week of legal arguments. Federal prosecutors are requesting a prison sentence of at least 11 years for Combs's two convictions related to transportation for prostitution. His legal team, in contrast, continues to advocate for a 14-month term; with credit for time already served, this could result in his release before the year concludes. This request follows Judge Subramanian's recent denial of Combs's motion for a new trial or an acquittal. As one legal expert noted, "While such personal appeals are a standard last-ditch effort, their effectiveness depends heavily on whether the judge views the defendant’s remorse as authentic." Historically, these letters have yielded inconsistent outcomes, occasionally influencing sentencing in non-violent cases involving first-time offenders.

Sean Combs is set to be sentenced tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET and is anticipated to address Judge Subramanian directly in court before the final decision is announced.