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- Diddy judge offers hip-hop mogul a way to cut up to a year off his prison sentence (businessinsider.com)
Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, recently sentenced to over four years in prison for prostitution-related charges, may have an opportunity to significantly reduce his time behind bars by participating in a federal substance abuse treatment program.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian has indicated he will recommend Combs for any qualifying substance abuse program, specifically mentioning the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). This intensive, 500-hour, nine-month program could potentially shave up to a full year off the 55-year-old’s sentence, according to prison consultants.
Combs received a sentence of four years and two months last week following his conviction for transporting male escorts across state lines for drug-fueled sex encounters with ex-girlfriends. He has been held at a Brooklyn federal jail since his indictment in September 2024, with that time counting toward his overall sentence.
In a letter to Combs’ lawyers, made public late Wednesday, Judge Subramanian specified his recommendation. Justin Paperny, a former inmate and prison consultant, noted that while RDAP is challenging, it aims to correct “flawed thinking” and assist in overcoming addiction.
Combs’ attorney, Teny Geragos, had requested that the court recommend the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at Fort Dix, a low-security facility in New Jersey, due to its proximity to New York City and its offering of RDAP. Judge Subramanian stated he would recommend a prison in the New York metropolitan area for Combs, but the final facility determination would rest with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
During his pre-sentencing, Combs submitted a letter to the judge championing his newfound sobriety. “For starters, I am now sober for the first time in 25 years,” Combs wrote, expressing his efforts to address drug abuse and anger issues and take accountability. His defense lawyers had previously attributed his violent tendencies to drug use.
Despite the severity of the crimes, Judge Subramanian offered words of encouragement to Combs at his sentencing, stating, “You are going to get through this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Paperny cautioned that while a judge’s recommendation is helpful, securing early release through RDAP involves administrative hurdles. The BOP retains discretion, particularly for inmates whose convictions involve elements of violence or weapons possession. Paperny suggested that a key factor for the BOP’s decision will likely be any description of violence or weapons found in Combs’ non-public probation report.
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- Diddy judge offers hip-hop mogul a way to cut up to a year off his prison sentence (businessinsider.com)