The Sentence and the Countdown
By now, it’s official: Sean “Diddy” Combs knows when he’s expected to walk out of prison. Convicted in early October to four years and two months in prison after an extremely high-profile trial involving allegations of sexual assault, the 55-year-old rapper has already spent over a year in custody since his arrest in September 2024. The charge that landed him in prison? Being found guilty in a case related to transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Diddy is currently slated for release on May 8, 2028—unless he can find a way to leave earlier. And yes, there are indeed a few doors left to push.
Appeal in Play and “Good Conduct” Credits
Diddy’s attorneys aren’t sitting idle. As reported by USA Today, they filed an appeal against his conviction on October 20 before the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. While everyone awaits the outcome of this move, it’s worth noting that during his trial, Diddy was acquitted on two other, even more serious charges: racketeering and sex trafficking.
But there’s another legal twist. Under the First Step Act—signed into law by Donald Trump in 2018—it’s possible to accumulate “good conduct” credits for each year behind bars, potentially speeding up a release. So if Diddy plays by the rules, his time inside could shrink. Only time (and behavior) will tell.
The Presidential Pardon Card: Reality or Fantasy?
Still not satisfied, the Bad Boy Records cofounder is also exploring the gold standard of early release—petitioning the President of the United States for a presidential pardon. He’s already begun the process, and the American head of state told CNN last month that Diddy is among the “many people” who have asked for this favor.
“I was very friendly with him, I got along very well with him and he seemed like a nice guy,” he clarified to Newsmax. “I didn’t know him well. But when I ran for election, he became very hostile.”
For now, this option seems to have hit a wall. After a TMZ report claimed the president was “hesitating” to grant clemency to Diddy, a White House official denied it to NBC News, stating,
“There is no truth to the TMZ story, which we would have gladly explained if they had contacted us before publishing this false information. The president—and not anonymous sources—makes the ultimate decision when it comes to pardons and commutations.”
The Transfer Request and What’s Next
Diddy’s lawyers also attempted to move him to a correctional facility in New Jersey so he could be closer to his family and access a treatment program, The Hollywood Reporter revealed. However, the presiding judge denied this request.
What is certain is this: whenever he is released—on May 8, 2028, or earlier if fortune favors him—the former music producer will be subject to strict judicial supervision. No VIP passes for skipping post-prison life rules!
Will P. Diddy be shaking up the industry again before the decade is out? The countdown (and the legal chess game) continues…
