American music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was sentenced to more than four years in prison after being convicted on prostitution-related charges involving his two ex-girlfriends.
Warning: This story contains details of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
The sentence came after a federal jury acquitted the 55-year-old of the most serious charges against him — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
Combs pleaded not guilty to all of the charges brought against him.
Here's a breakdown of the case and what comes next for the disgraced rapper.
What was Combs found guilty of?
Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution.
In July, Combs was convicted of two offences under the US's "Mann Act", which criminalises transporting people across state lines for sex work.
The jury heard he flew his girlfriends and male sex workers around the country to engage in drug-fuelled sexual encounters in multiple places over many years.
US District Judge Arun Subramanian praised the accusers who testified at the trial, which included Combs's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and an influencer known as Jane, who testified anonymously during the trial.
They effectively spoke for countless others who experienced abuse, the judge said: "You gave them a voice. You stood up to power."
In addressing the court before the judge imposed the sentence, Combs spoke out for the first time, admitting his past behaviour was "disgusting, shameful and sick".
He also apologised to Ms Ventura and Jane and said domestic violence was a burden he would carry for the rest of his life.
But despite his plea for "mercy" and expressions of remorse, the judge told him he had abused his "power and control" with women he professed to love.
How much prison time was possible?
Since Combs will get credit for the time he has served at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Centre since his arrest in September 2024, he will be in prison for 36 months — or three years.
Combs's punishment was more lenient than the roughly six-to-seven year term recommended under federal guidelines.
It was also a far cry from the 14-month, time-served sentence his defence team argued for. This sentence would have allowed him to walk free before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Combs to 11 years and three months, arguing the "unrepentant" Combs had left his victims living in fear.
Judge Subramanian said a lengthy sentence was necessary to "send a message to abusers and victims alike that exploitation and violence against women is met with real accountability".
The judge also sentenced Combs to five years supervised release and imposed a $US500,000 ($758,000) fine against him — the maximum fine allowable.
Women right's attorney Ann Olivarius said the sentence didn't satisfy neither Combs's or the prosecution's demands.
"This outcome reflects the persistence of half-measures, acknowledging harm but stopping short of full accountability, highlighting how far the system still has to go to deliver real justice," she told The New York Post.
Since the jury delivered its final verdict in July, the judge has denied two bail requests from Combs's legal team and rejected a motion to overturn the convictions.
But what about the racketeering and sex trafficking charges?
In July, the jury found Combs not guilty of two counts of sex trafficking, which carries a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence.
He was also found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy — essentially a charge of operating a criminal enterprise, which could have resulted in a life sentence.
The jury was deadlocked on this charge.
The verdict came after jurors heard two months of testimony delving into Comb's private life involving degrading sex-sessions he dubbed "freak-offs".
Combs's ex-girlfriends described the "freak-offs" as drug-fuelled sexual marathons with male escorts, which they said the rapper orchestrated, watched and masturbated to.
He also filmed the "freak-offs" and used the videos to blackmail Ms Ventura and Jane, according to prosecutors.
Wrapping up their case, prosecutors portrayed Combs as an untouchable leader of a criminal enterprise who used power, violence and fear to cover up a range of crimes including sex trafficking, kidnapping, forced labour, drug distribution, arson and bribery, enticement to engage in prostitution and obstruction of justice.
But Combs's lawyers argued he simply led an unconventional "swinger's lifestyle".
Will he appeal his sentence?
Yes.
Outside the courthouse, Combs's lawyers said they plan to appeal and think they have a “strong basis” to do so.
His lawyers believe the judge repeatedly mentioned coercion in his sentencing, despite Combs not being convicted of coercion-related charges.
"We think that's unconstitutional," lawyer Marc Agnifilo said.
"That was totally inconsistent with the jury verdict. The judge acted as a 13th juror, one we did not choose.
"The sentence was driven by the conduct the jury rejected. The jury acquitted Mr Combs of any coercion."
What's next for Combs?
Seth J. Zuckerman, a former prosecutor and criminal defence lawyer, told The Washington Post that it will be a "couple weeks" before Combs will be sent to a federal facility to serve out his sentence.
He believes Comb's attorneys will likely ask for the rapper to be sent to a facility that's "closest to his family, that's not the most maximum security, one that has a good reputation, and one where he'll probably have no safety issues".
Outside of his criminal case, Combs still faces more than 50 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual abuse and other misconduct.
Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee said in a post on Instagram on Thursday that "many more" lawsuits will be filed.
He has denied all allegations in those filings.
Could Combs be pardoned by the president?
Theoretically, yes.
But US President Donald Trump has indicated that he is unlikely to grant a pardon to the media mogul.
"I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great and he seemed like a nice guy," Mr Trump said in an interview in August on Newsmax.
"I didn't know him well, but when I ran for office, he was very hostile," he added.
Asked if that meant he was not inclined to pardon Combs, Mr Trump said: "I would say so, yeah."
