Sean “Diddy” Combs is fighting back after being sentenced to more than four years in federal prison, arguing that his conviction and punishment were unfair and overly harsh. The music mogul, known worldwide for his influence in hip-hop and business, is now asking a federal appeals court to overturn his conviction or at least reduce the 50-month sentence handed down by a New York judge. His legal team has pushed this latest appeal as part of a broader challenge to both the verdict and the judge’s actions during sentencing. Diddy has been serving his sentence at a federal prison in New Jersey since his conviction earlier this year, and his lawyers say the punishment goes beyond what the law allows for the offenses he was found guilty of. They describe the sentence as disproportionate and rooted in details that a jury actually rejected at trial. The appeal has quickly become a focal point of his ongoing legal battle as he seeks immediate relief from incarceration. Diddy Appeals Conviction: What Happened and Why It MattersDiddy was convicted in July 2025 on two counts of transporting adults for prostitution, violations of the Mann Act, after an eight-week federal trial in Manhattan. A jury acquitted him of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges, meaning jurors did not find evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Combs engaged in those crimes. In October, Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced Combs to 50 months in prison, ordered him to pay a $500,000 fine and set five years of supervised release following his time behind bars. Prosecutors had sought a much longer sentence, arguing that Combs’ conduct and attitude toward the allegations warranted significant punishment. Defense lawyers had asked for a much shorter term, saying Combs’ time already in detention should almost satisfy any additional prison time. What made the sentence controversial was how the judge explained his decision. In adding to the punishment, the judge referenced testimony and conduct that jurors had rejected, including claims of coercion and abuse that went toward the more serious charges. Diddy's appellate attorneys call this approach improper, saying a judge should not use such “acquitted conduct” to enhance a sentence and that doing so essentially amounts to acting as an extra juror. They argue that similar convictions typically result in far shorter sentences often under 15 months and that Combs’ punishment far exceeds that norm. Since filing the appeal, Combs’ lawyers have asked the court not only to overturn the conviction but also to consider releasing him immediately or to send the case back for resentencing. They maintain that if the sentence can’t be thrown out entirely, it should at least be limited strictly to what the jury actually found. As of now, the appeals court has not scheduled arguments, and Combs remains in federal prison, with a projected release date not until 2028 unless the court intervenes. In the months ahead, the case could set important precedent about how judges use evidence at sentencing when juries have acquitted defendants of more serious counts, making this appeal closely watched far beyond Combs’ own situation.