Sean Combs Admits He Was 'Dead Wrong' in Letter Before Sentencing

Just hours before his Oct. 3 sentencing, disgraced music mogul Sean Combs, 55, penned a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian admitting he was “dead wrong” and begging for “mercy,” (via BBC).

Combs Admitted He 'Lost [His] Mind'

In July, Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, both of which would have seen him spend the rest of his life behind bars. Ahead of his sentencing today, Combs took "full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs" in his letter to Subramanian, claiming he was "sincerely sorry for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others." While admitting that being incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center has been the “hardest [two] years of my life,” he said that he now understands his "downfall was rooted in my selfishness."

"I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved,” he said of photos and video which allegedly show him brutalizing Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura. “I'm sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry," he said, adding that the violent images "play over and over in my head daily."

Combs Begged for Mercy

However, Combs revealed that his time behind bars hasn’t been completely negative. While there were times when he wanted to "give up” and thought he was "better off dead," Combs admitted that "the old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn." He’s now become “sober for the first time in 25 years,” while spending his time "reading books, writing, working out, or in therapy." He also began a six-week course on business and entrepreneurship for his fellow inmates.

"I ask you for mercy today, not only for my sake, but for the sake of my children. God blessed me with [seven] beautiful children—[three] sons and [four] daughters," Combs added, admitting that he "failed my children as a father."

The Musician Admitted He's 'Scared'

The musician also spoke of his mother, 84-year-old Janice Combs, who recently underwent brain surgery. "I am unable to be there for my mother when she needs me most,” he said. “As I write you this letter, I am scared to death. Scared to spend another second away from my mother and my children. I no longer care about the money or the fame. There is nothing more important to me than my family."

Combs concluded: "Between all of my losses and lessons, I can state for a fact that I will never be in another criminal courtroom again, and I do not believe any other person would do anything similar from fear of similar punishment. If you give me a chance, I would like the opportunity to share my story with people to prevent at least one person from making the mistakes that I’ve made." He ended the letter by urging Subramanian to "make me an example of what a person can do if afforded a second chance."

Combs is scheduled to be sentenced in the early afternoon hours of Oct. 3.