Ahead of sentencing in his federal sex-crimes case, Sean "Diddy" Combs is making one last case for his freedom.

The embattled hip-hop mogul, 55, is expected to receive a ruling on his prison sentence in Manhattan court on Friday, Oct. 3. Combs was convicted in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution following a two-month trial that unearthed the Grammy-winning rapper's decadeslong history of alleged abuse.

In a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian, filed Oct. 2, Combs addressed his legal woes and expressed regret for his violence toward former girlfriends Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine and "Jane." Both women testified against Combs during his trial, offering harrowing testimony on their reportedly volatile relationship with the Bad Boy Records founder.

"I want to apologize and say how sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others by my conduct," Combs wrote, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. "I take full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs."

He continued: "This has been the hardest two years of my life, and I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself. In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them. … I understand that the mere words 'I'm sorry' will never be good enough as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past."

Combs' letter comes after several of his alleged victims, including Ventura Fine and former assistant "Mia," wrote letters to Subramanian on the rapper's legal fate. Combs' loved ones and associates, such as City Girls rapper Yung Miami and producer Dallas Austin, also wrote letters of support requesting "leniency" for his prison sentence.

Diddy says his domestic abuse with Cassie is a 'deep wound'

Combs, who has remained in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest, reflected that he's "had to look in the mirror like never before" in his Oct. 2 letter to the judge. This self-examination, the rapper said, includes confronting his abuse of ex-girlfriends Ventura Fine and "Jane."

"The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily. I literally lost my mind," wrote Combs, referring to leaked surveillance footage showing him attacking Ventura Fine at a Los Angeles-area hotel in 2016. (Combs issued a video apology on social media after the footage was released by CNN in May 2024.)

"I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I'm sorry for that and always will be," Combs continued. "My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry. … I honestly feel sorry for something that I couldn't forgive someone else for: if they put their hands on one of my daughters. This is why it is so hard for me to forgive myself. It is like a deep wound that leaves an ugly scar."

Regarding "Jane," the anonymous witness and single mother who prosecutors claimed was roped into Combs' empire of sex parties and abuse, Combs said he thought he was "providing for Jane concerning her and her child."

However, after hearing the woman's testimony, which included allegations of being forced to have sex with a series of male escorts, Combs said he "realized that I hurt her."

Diddy was 'reborn' after incarceration, rapper says

Despite his legal downfall, Combs is reframing his time in jail as a blessing.

"Jail is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually," Combs wrote in his letter to Judge Subramanian. "Over the past year, there have been so many times that I wanted to give up. There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail, and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you — I choose to live."

As part of his personal transformation, Combs said he got sober "for the first time in 25 years," has been attending therapy and started a mentorship program for his fellow inmates.

"I realize that I am in a situation where no amount of money, power or fame can save me. Only God can save me," Combs continued. "I have been putting in the work and working diligently to become the best version of myself to ensure that I never make the same mistakes again."

Ahead of Combs' sentencing, the rapper's legal team had recommended Subramanian hand down 14 months of prison time, while prosecutors sought an 11-year sentence. In a bid for his freedom, Combs asked the judge for the "opportunity to share my story with people to prevent at least one person from making the mistakes that I've made."

Combs' lawyers indicated he intends to "allocute," or make a formal statement in front of the court, "in the most dignified and respectful fashion possible," according to court documents submitted last week.

His attorneys also want to play an 11-minute video about him at the sentencing. The video shows Combs with his family, speaking to school children and running the New York marathon to raise money for charity.

"I can't change the past, but I can change the future. I know that God put me here to transform me," Combs concluded his statement. "I'm committed to the journey of remaining a drug free, non-violent and peaceful person. ... 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."

Contributing: Anika Reed, USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sean 'Diddy' Combs breaks silence in emotional letter to judge ahead of sentencing

Reporting by Edward Segarra, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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