In a surprising turn of events, former music industry titan Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces the public eye once again, this time through a stark prison mugshot. The image captures him serving a lengthy sentence on prostitution charges at a low-security facility in New Jersey.
At 56, the once-glamorous rapper is seen in the booking photo obtained by CBS News, sporting gray hair and an unkempt beard, dressed in a maroon prison sweater. This appearance is a stark contrast to his former image, where he was often seen in dapper designer suits, complete with dark hair and stylish sunglasses.
Diddy’s world has undeniably shifted since those days of stardom. Last month, he was handed a sentence of four years and two months in federal custody following a July conviction related to prostitution.
After his sentencing, the artist, known for hits like ‘I’ll Be Missing You,’ was transferred from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center to the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on October 30.
Despite these challenges, his publicist, Juda Engelmayer, told NBC News that Combs remains committed to sobriety and personal growth, aiming to inspire others through his journey.
There, his publicist Juda Engelmayer insisted to NBC News, her client is committed to sobriety, healing and trying to set an example for others.
He has secured a coveted job at the prison chapel and is enrolled in a drug rehabilitation program that could see his sentence reduced by a year.
He has even reportedly started up his own class to teach other inmates how to be entrepreneurs at the low-security prison, located about 40 miles outside of Philadelphia.
‘His sobriety and self-discipline are priorities,’ his spokesperson said, ‘and he is taking them seriously.’
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 56, was seen sporting gray hair in a booking photo
It was a far cry from the normally-quaffed look Diddy was known for during the height of his fame, when he was regularly pictured in designer suits and clothing with dark hair and sunglasses
Combs is keeping busy at the prison as the chaplain’s assistant, which is considered one of the more desirable assignments, according to CBS News.
A former prison commissioner told the outlet that the tasks vary, but typically inmates maintain the chaplain’s religious library, clean their office and help with some record keeping.
The position also allows the inmate to work in an air-conditioned private office and enjoy some of the food that chaplains bring for religious services.
At times, chaplains even allow their assistants to prepare a call-out list, which tells the corrections officers which inmates are allowed to leave their cells to attend programs or medical appointments – letting assistants add their friends to the list.
‘He works in the chapel library, where he describes the environment as warm, respectful and rewarding,’ Engelmayer said of Combs’s experience.
The rapper was raised Catholic, but has spoken publicly about not identifying with any denomination.
He has referenced God in several social media posts, and was seen reading the Bible during his federal trial.
Combs has also restarted his Free Game with Diddy entrepreneurial class to help other inmates become business leaders, value their self-worth and become productive citizens.
He had previously run the program while being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn.
Combs has enrolled in a drug rehabilitation program in prison, after his attorneys argued that his incessant drug use was a driving factor for his infamous ‘freak off’ parties
The disgraced music mogul was convicted in July of prostitution charges in relation to his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. They are pictured here in 2012
But his attorneys had petitioned the judge who oversaw his case, US District Judge Arun Subramanian to transfer Combs to Fort Dix – which they said they felt was better suited to address their client’s issues with substance abuse.
Combs had blamed drugs for his actions in a letter to the judge ahead of his sentencing last month, noting that he was ‘now sober for the first time in 25 years’ and he has been trying his best ‘to deal with my drug abuse and anger issues.’
His lawyers had also argued at his trial that his incessant drug use was a driving factor for his infamous ‘freak off’ parties.
‘In order to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts, we request that the court strongly recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Mr. Combs be placed at FCI Fort Dix,’ Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos petitioned Judge Subramanian.
The judge has since said he allowed Combs to enter a program to rehabilitate himself from substance abuse while in custody – something that is rare for inmates to be assigned to when they first enter a federal prison.
Combs now faces getting his sentence reduced by a year if he keeps up with the rehabilitation program.
‘Mr. Combs is an active participant in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and has taken his rehabilitation process seriously from the start,’ the rapper’s spokesperson said.
‘He is fully engaged in his work, focused on growth and committed to positive change.’
Combs is now working as a chaplain’s assistant at Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he has restarted his entrepreneurial program
But Combs has had some struggles inside the prison, as well.
Just days after being transferred to the low-level prison, the Bad Boy Entertainment founder got into trouble for making a three-way call in violation of prison rules.
According to prison documents obtained by CBS News, Combs called a woman on November 3, and about halfway through their conversation, the rapper said he needed to speak with someone he described as ‘the digital person’ about blogs.
The woman then reportedly asked Combs whether she should add the person to the call, to which he replied ‘yes.’
After he then spoke briefly with the woman about arranging visitors for the weekend, the woman added an unknown male to the call.
The Bureau of Prisons, however, prohibits inmates from adding multiple people to a call, and inmates are only allowed to speak to people on prison phones from previously-approved call lists.
The idea is to prevent inmates from coordinating criminal activity, such as drug smuggling, gang violence or witness intimidation.
But Combs has said he was simply speaking with his lawyer, who added the head of legal communications who was working on a statement for his approval to be sent to The New York Times.
Combs also faced scrutiny after he was allegedly caught consuming a concoction of fermented Fanta, sugar and apples.
But his spokesperson insists he did not violate any rules and he is committed to maintaining his sobriety.
