In Letter Before Sentencing, Diddy Apologizes to Cassie and Tells Judge, “I Lost My Way”

On Thursday, Oct. 2, the day before his federal sentencing, Sean “Diddy” Combs told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that he has undergone a profound change, admitting he was “broken to my core” and at times felt he might be better off dead.

Combs, 55, submitted a letter to the court describing how a year spent in custody, sober and free from drugs and alcohol, forced him to confront the behavior that led to his September 2024 arrest on prostitution-related charges. He requested leniency ahead of a sentencing hearing scheduled to begin Friday morning.

The musician and entrepreneur emphasized that his perspective has shifted since his incarceration. “Prison will change you or kill you — I choose to live,” he wrote, explaining that the experience prompted deep reflection and a commitment to change.

A jury in July cleared Combs of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy counts, which spared him from a potential life sentence; however, he was convicted on two prostitution-related counts, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. Defense attorneys say his year-long detention is punishment enough and urged his release, while prosecutors are pushing for a sentence of at least 11 years.

In his letter, Combs accepted responsibility for his actions and described the past two years as the hardest period of his life. He said he no longer blames others for his circumstances and expressed remorse for the harm he caused to multiple women, including an apology to Casandra “Cassie” Ventura for a 2016 assault captured on hotel security footage shown during his trial.

He also apologized to a woman who testified under the pseudonym “Jane,” acknowledging that her testimony made him realize the pain he caused. Combs wrote that remorse, regret and shame have made self-forgiveness difficult, calling his guilt “a deep wound that leaves an ugly scar.”

While detained, Combs says he has devoted himself to reading, writing, exercise and counseling. He reports leading a six-week class for fellow inmates called “Free Game with Diddy,” sharing business lessons and reflections born from his mistakes. He added that he is engaging in therapy to address past substance use and anger issues and said he has been sober for the first time in 25 years.

Combs appealed to the judge not only for himself but for his family — including seven children and his 84-year-old mother, for whom he had been the primary caregiver — noting that his incarceration has caused him to miss important family milestones. He described conditions at the Brooklyn federal jail as deplorable, saying inmates are confined in crowded, windowless rooms with limited access to clean facilities.

Urging the judge to offer a second chance rather than impose a lengthy sentence, Combs asked to return home to his family and pledged that, if released, he would not squander that opportunity. He characterized his time in custody as a “spiritual reset” and promised to devote himself to making amends and rebuilding his life.

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