What did Sebastian Telfair do to Land in Jail Next to Diddy?
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was sent off to begin his 50-month sentence for two violations of the Mann Act just days ago. While Diddy spent months trying to wiggle his way out of federal prison, he seems to be settling in at FCI Fort Dix just fine now. The disgraced music mogul was spotted spending time in the prison yard recently, and he even found another famous face to chat with. Diddy was photographed chatting up former NBA star Sebastian Telfair. Telfair’s NBA career ended in disappointment, but do you know why he landed in prison? His conviction is much different than Diddy’s.
Diddy has found a famous friend in prison
Diddy is likely still finding his groove in federal prison. Still, experts insist the facility he is now housed at is markedly better than the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he spent more than a year while awaiting and then standing trial. Fort Dix appears to be agreeing with Diddy, at the very least. Since his arrival at the facility just days ago, he has been spotted in the prison yard chatting with other inmates, including one who is recognizable as a former NBA star.
TMZ captured photos of the two celebrities having a friendly chat while standing around outside the facility. Both Sebastian Telfair and Diddy were dressed in prison-issue sweatsuits and blue jackets. Although it appeared to be a bit crisp outside, both men were seen smiling and enjoying the fresh air. Telfair wasn’t the only inmate Diddy was chatting with. TMZ captured the music mogul with a group of men circling around him. It seems his celebrity status has followed him to federal prison. Sebastian Telfair’s star status, although dimmer than Diddy’s, followed him, too. But why is he in prison?
Why is Sebastian Telfair in federal prison?
Sebastian Telfair, originally from Brooklyn, rose to fame as a potential NBA superstar, but is now more infamous than famous. While he played nine seasons in the NBA, initially drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers straight out of high school, he never became the breakout star that recruiters and experts thought he could be. He bounced around to multiple teams before eventually leaving the league. He has since resurfaced in the news for more nefarious reasons.
In 2017, he was arrested on weapons possession charges. During a routine traffic stop he was found in possession of multiple handguns, amunition and a bulletproof vest. He was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to more than three years in prison, though he appealed the conviction. Telfair has spoken out about the incident during interviews, but failed to take responsiblity.
More recently, he was connected to an NBA healthcare fraud scheme. According to the Department of Justice, Telfair, and more than a dozen other players, defrauded the league by submitting falsified medical invoices for reimbursement. The scheme involved more than $5 million in reimbursement submissions that were for fake medical procedures. He was convicted of fraud in 2021. Telfair refused to abide by the terms of his probation. He did not complete court-ordered community service hours and refused to check in with his probation officers.
Failure to abide by the terms of his probation led to a six-month sentence in federal prison. Telfair reported to Fort Dix in August 2025. He currently has a release date of January 21, 2026. While Telfair and Diddy’s sentences won’t overlap for too long, it looks like they’ll be buddied up throughout the holiday season. Hopefully, this time, he can stay out of trouble.
