Sean “Diddy” Combs’ prison transfer is official, and it comes after a rough few weeks behind bars. The disgraced music mogul has been moved out of FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey and into a federal prison in Pennsylvania, following reports that he was living a luxury lifestyle inside.
According to the Associated Press, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) transferred Combs, 56, to FCI Allenwood Low, a low-security facility south of Williamsport and roughly 155 miles west of New York City. The BOP confirmed the move but provided no further details, saying it does not discuss conditions of confinement or reasons for transfers for “privacy, safety, and security reasons.” Combs’ spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, said, “Decisions about inmate placement are made by the BOP, and we are not in a position to speak to the circumstances surrounding this transfer.” He added, “Sean remains focused on moving forward, and we hope that his time at the new facility will be productive and without unnecessary disruption.”
While the BOP hasn’t explained the move, the timing is seemingly convenient. NBC News recently reported that Combs was continuing to enjoy aspects of his millionaire lifestyle at Fort Dix. The outlet cited four men who served time with him, along with photos and videos. NBC reported that other inmates allegedly cooked, cleaned, made his bed, and did his laundry, while another gave him Chinese-style massages.
“This is not some normal s**t you see in jail. This is some rich s**t,” one of the men told NBC. “It looks crazy, but again, it’s Diddy.”
Why Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Prison Transfer Is Raising Questions
NBC also reported that Combs allegedly used a contraband cellphone to scroll social media and view explicit photos sent by an ex-girlfriend, and that he reportedly shared smuggled alcohol with a tight circle of inmates on weekends.
“Hell yeah, I drank with him,” one man said. Sources also claimed he spent thousands of dollars a month to maintain the lifestyle, with money flowing from people outside the prison to the commissary accounts of inmates who performed services for him. “He’s a billionaire. People are in awe of him,” one source said. “Money is power, especially behind bars.”
A spokesperson for Combs refuted the claims, saying the media was making news out of ordinary operations in prison and that Combs is simply serving his time and waiting to hear from the courts regarding his appeal.
After the NBC report, Combs was placed in the prison’s Special Housing Unit, the heavily secured area for inmates with disciplinary or security concerns. TMZ reports he has been written up multiple times for phone violations and getting into fights, and was sent to solitary twice. He also lost 41 days of good-conduct credit, which pushes his release date back to March 2, 2028, according to someone who spoke to the AP. TMZ’s sources add that he lost 400 days of commissary privileges.
Despite the media frenzy, there is some conflict in the reporting. TMZ reported that Combs was injured in a fight with another inmate and taken out of Fort Dix for medical treatment, describing a medical emergency last Saturday in which he was taken by ambulance. The Bureau of Prisons, in a rare rebuttal, told the AP that the story “is false and did not happen.”
TMZ also notes that the move doesn’t look like a punishment. If Combs were being treated as a problem inmate, he would likely be sent to a higher-security prison, but Allenwood Low has the same security level as Fort Dix. TMZ also speculates the transfer could have more to do with his safety. Fort Dix holds about 4,000 inmates compared to Allenwood’s roughly 1,000, which could make it easier for guards to keep an eye on him. Nevertheless, the BOP has not confirmed a reason.
As previously reported, Combs is serving a four-year, two-month sentence after being convicted on two prostitution-related charges for transporting people across state lines for sexual encounters. A New York jury acquitted him of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges. In April, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on his bid to overturn the conviction and sentence, which his lawyers argued was too harsh. The court has yet to rule.
