Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been photographed for the first time since his conviction, spending time with former NBA player Sebastian Telfair at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey. The sighting has drawn attention to the two Brooklyn natives now sharing life behind bars, each for very different reasons.
Diddy Spotted Laughing with Fellow Inmates
Photos obtained by TMZ show the 55-year-old rapper chatting and smiling with a small group of inmates in the prison yard. Among them was 40-year-old Sebastian Telfair, once one of the most promising young basketball players in America.
Both men, dressed in standard prison attire, appeared relaxed as they talked under the autumn sun. This marks the first time images of Combs behind bars have surfaced since his sentencing in July.
Prison officials confirmed that Combs, who is serving a four-year term for two counts of transportation for prostitution, has been assigned to the low-security facility since late summer. The rapper, whose real name is Sean Combs, was moved from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after requesting a transfer closer to family and access to a drug rehabilitation program.
Brooklyn Roots, Different Paths
Combs and Telfair share a common background — both rose from Brooklyn neighborhoods to national fame before legal troubles cut their careers short.
Telfair’s representative confirmed his identity in the photographs, saying he has been serving a six-month sentence since August for violating probation linked to a healthcare fraud case. His incarceration is expected to end early next year.
Once hailed as a prodigy, Telfair was drafted straight out of Abraham Lincoln High School in 2004 by the Portland Trail Blazers. Over the next decade, he played for several NBA teams including the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder, before concluding his professional career in China.
In 2023, Telfair pleaded guilty to defrauding the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan of nearly four million dollars, alongside 17 other former players. He was originally sentenced to probation and community service but was returned to custody this year after breaching his release conditions.
Life at Fort Dix Prison
FCI Fort Dix, where both men are currently held, is one of the largest federal prisons in the United States, housing around 4,000 inmates. Opened in 1992 on the grounds of a former military base, it operates as a low-security facility with a focus on rehabilitation and work programs.
By contrast, Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where Combs was previously held, houses about 1,250 inmates and is known for tighter restrictions and limited outdoor time.
Combs is said to have adjusted well to life at Fort Dix. A prison official familiar with his case described him as “engaged in programs and respectful of staff.” His transfer also allows him to participate in the Bureau of Prisons’ drug treatment initiative, which he reportedly requested voluntarily.
During his sentencing hearing, Combs acknowledged that this is the first time in 25 years he has lived completely sober, saying he intends to use his prison term to rebuild his life and focus on personal recovery.
Sentence and Early Release Possibility
Under federal sentencing guidelines, inmates typically serve about 85 percent of their term with good behavior. Combs’ 50-month sentence makes him eligible for release as early as May 2028.
The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that this date includes credit for participation in the First Step Act — a federal reform measure that rewards inmates who complete education and rehabilitation programs.
| Inmate | Conviction | Sentence Length | Projected Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean “Diddy” Combs | Transportation for prostitution | 50 months | May 8, 2028 (projected) |
| Sebastian Telfair | Probation violation (healthcare fraud) | 6 months | February 2025 (expected) |
Telfair, meanwhile, is nearing the halfway mark of his sentence. His legal team has expressed optimism that he will be able to return to community programs and family life upon release.
A Quiet Chapter for Two Public Figures
For two men once celebrated for their fame and success, their current circumstances mark a stark reversal. Combs, once one of the most influential figures in hip-hop and business, now spends his days in a shared dormitory with limited privileges. Telfair, once an NBA star with million-dollar endorsements, now works in the prison’s food services division.
Despite the fall from public life, their recent meeting inside Fort Dix has drawn curiosity from fans and former associates alike, particularly because both men share a deep connection to Brooklyn’s sports and music culture.
While their crimes differ sharply, their stories intersect as examples of fame’s fleeting power and the challenges of personal redemption.
Outside the prison, family members have kept a low profile. Combs’ relatives, according to those close to the family, have continued to visit regularly and are said to be supportive of his rehabilitation efforts.
Inside Fort Dix, life follows routine: early wake-ups, assigned work shifts, and limited recreation hours. Yet for inmates like Combs and Telfair, even small moments of conversation in the yard can offer a rare connection to familiarity amid confinement.
The encounter between the two men has sparked discussion on social media, with fans reflecting on the twists of fate that brought two Brooklyn icons together again — this time not on a stage or court, but behind prison walls.
In the end, it may be years before either man steps back into the public eye. For now, both are bound by the same fences, routines, and the hope that lessons learned inside Fort Dix might lead to a different path once they walk free.
Their story is a reminder that even in confinement, redemption and second chances are still possible — though they come at a heavy cost.
