Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to be sentenced on Friday in a criminal case that could result in a lengthy prison term. The hip-hop mogul was convicted in July for violating the federal Mann Act by transporting individuals across state lines for sexual activities, including his girlfriends and male sex workers. Although a jury acquitted Combs, 55, of more serious charges related to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, he faces a recommendation from prosecutors for over 11 years in prison for two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Combs' legal team argues that the proposed sentence is excessively harsh. They are advocating for his immediate release, stating that the punishment sought by prosecutors is “wildly out of proportion” to the offenses. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who will determine the sentence, has previously denied bail for Combs, who has been held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn since his arrest last year.

The sentencing follows a nearly two-month trial that included testimonies from women who accused Combs of various forms of abuse. R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend, testified that Combs coerced her into engaging in sexual acts with strangers hundreds of times during their ten-year relationship. The jury viewed video evidence showing Combs allegedly dragging and assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway after one of these encounters, which she described as “freak-offs.”

Another witness, who testified under the pseudonym "Jane," recounted experiences of violence and being pressured to engage in sexual activities with male sex workers while Combs observed and sometimes filmed. Additional testimonies included a former personal assistant who accused Combs of rape and a friend of Cassie’s who claimed Combs dangled her from a balcony.

Despite being acquitted of racketeering charges, Judge Subramanian can still consider the testimonies related to those allegations when deciding on the sentence. The judge is also reviewing letters submitted by Combs and some of his accusers. In a letter to the court, Combs expressed a desire for change, stating, “The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn.”

Conversely, Cassie described Combs as a manipulative abuser, asserting that he has “no interest in changing or becoming better.” A former assistant, who testified under the pseudonym “Mia,” requested a sentence that reflects the ongoing threat Combs poses to her and others.

Combs is expected to address the court during the sentencing, and his defense team plans to present an 11-minute video. His lawyers maintain that the sexual encounters were consensual and argue that his time in jail has led to personal growth and sobriety. At a recent court hearing, Combs appeared optimistic, telling his family that he is “getting closer to going home.”