Rapper Sean Combs, widely known as Diddy, is set for an earlier release from prison following his participation in a drug rehabilitation program, according to prison records.
Combs, currently serving a 50-month sentence at Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix in New Jersey for prostitution-related charges, is now expected to leave prison on April 25, 2028, approximately six weeks ahead of the previous date of June 4, 2028. The update comes after his acceptance into the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) in November.
A representative for Combs said at the time, “Mr Combs is an active participant in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and has taken his rehabilitation process seriously from the start. He is fully engaged in his work, focused on growth, and committed to positive change.”
Legal and Behavioral Context
The rapper’s release timeline has seen multiple adjustments. Initially set for May 8, 2028, it was later moved to June 4, 2028, following alleged minor infractions, including consuming homemade alcohol and participating in an unauthorized three-way phone call. TMZ reported that the improvised alcohol was made using sugar, Fanta, and apples fermented for two weeks.
Combs’ legal team, however, contested the phone call allegations, stating it was covered by attorney-client privilege.
His spokesperson added, “Mr Combs is in his first week at FCI Fort Dix and is focused on adjusting, working on himself, and doing better each day. As with any high-profile individual in a new environment, there will be many rumours and exaggerated stories throughout his time there—most of them untrue. We ask that people give him the benefit of the doubt, the privacy to focus on his personal growth with grace and purpose.”
Appeals and Presidential Pardon
Combs has been in custody since September 2024, following a conviction on two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges, which would have carried a much longer sentence.
In December, Combs filed an appeal seeking either immediate release or a reduction in his sentence, arguing that prosecutors failed to prove key elements of the case and that the punishment violated his constitutional rights. Prosecutors opposed the appeal in February.
Prior to sentencing, he expressed remorse in a four-page letter, writing, “I literally lost my mind. I’m sorry for that and always will be… I lost my way. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core… The old me died in jail and a new version of me was born. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live.”
His legal team also explored the possibility of a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Trump acknowledged the request, saying, “A lot of people have asked me for pardons. I call him Puff Daddy; he has asked me for a pardon.”
Combs marked his 56th birthday in prison with a pizza meal and has reportedly taken up work in the facility’s laundry unit. Images released by TMZ show him smiling at another inmate while walking through prison corridors in a grey pullover and sweatpants.