A former assistant to Sean “Diddy” Combs, Cassie Ventura’s mom and an exotic dancer nicknamed “The Punisher” all testified throughout Combs’ federal legal trial on Tuesday because the prosecution continued to make its case in opposition to the hip-hop mogul.
The testimony Tuesday, referring to enterprise, household and intercourse, was used to bolster allegations that Ventura, Combs’ ex-girlfriend, laid out on the stand final week.
Prosecutors additionally mentioned they plan to name Scott Mescudi, the musician often known as Kid Cudi, to the stand Wednesday or Thursday.
The prosecution has argued Combs and some in his interior circle used threats, violence, medication, bribery, arson, kidnapping and lies to coerce Ventura and one other girl into taking part in intercourse events he known as “Freak Offs” and to guard the music mogul’s status.
The protection has acknowledged Combs was violent with romantic partners and throughout opening statements mentioned he had “a bit of a different sex life.” They additionally mentioned that whereas Combs is “a very flawed individual,” he has not dedicated the alleged federal crimes.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. If convicted of probably the most severe fees, he may resist life in jail.
Here’s what we realized from testimony Tuesday.
David James, a former assistant to Combs from 2007 to 2009, testified that he at instances would collect provides for Combs’ lodge rooms, together with objects that prosecutors say had been utilized in Combs’ intercourse events often known as “Freak Offs.”
James mentioned that he would make sure that Combs’ lodge rooms had been stocked with issues like Combs’ clothes, a toiletry bag, a drugs bag, meals and drinks. The medication bag usually carried 25-30 tablet bottles together with Ecstasy and Percocet, in line with James.
At instances, these objects would come with “personal items” like child oil, AstroGlide and condoms, which prosecutors have mentioned had been utilized in “Freak Offs.” James mentioned he would ask safety to be reimbursed from the money Combs stored available.
During cross-examination, James testified that he was instructed to not submit these things for reimbursement by way of the corporate as a result of they had been “items he didn’t want to have a record for.”
Further, James testified that he noticed Combs take medication and give them to his pals, and on a few events, James procured medication for Combs’ pals.
James didn’t testify about any private information of “Freak Offs.” But he mentioned he as soon as keyed right into a lodge room to drop off Combs’ iPod and noticed Ventura handed out in a mattress and a unadorned man who scurried away. He mentioned he heard the bathe operating and assumed Combs was in it.
James additionally testified a couple of near-confrontation between Combs and Suge Knight, the then-rival music government of Death Row Records.
The incident started after James and a safety guard spoke with Knight at a restaurant known as Mel’s Diner then noticed him wielding a gun within the parking zone and reported the sighting to Combs, who was at house.
Combs ordered James to drive him and the safety guard again to Mel’s Diner to search for Knight, he testified. Combs sat within the again seat with three handguns in his lap, James mentioned. Knight was gone after they received again to the restaurant.
On cross-examination, protection lawyer Marc Agnifilo questioned James about his recollection of the incident and whether or not he spoke up when Combs allegedly instructed him to go to the diner.
“Respectfully, Sir, you have someone with three guns in this close proximity, I didn’t think I had the option to say something,” James mentioned.
Asked if he was granted immunity for his testimony, James mentioned he wasn’t certain however believes he signed a proffer settlement. In basic, a proffer agreement is one wherein prosecutors agree to not prosecute somebody in change for his or her testimony.
James’ testimony additionally supplied a glimpse into what working below Combs was like.
One of Combs’ private assistants needed to go to the hospital for dehydration after working with Combs for twenty-four hours straight, James testified. He mentioned the work was laborious, however he was “prepared for the moment” and loved it at instances.
He testified there was a standard saying amongst Combs’ safety guards: “You know what rhymes with tired? Fired.”
James testified that there was camaraderie amongst Combs’ workers and that they might usually say Bad Boy was a household. He confirmed he felt a way of mission working for Combs.
“To make sure that he was happy and prepared for the day,” James mentioned of the mission.
Regina Ventura, the mom of Cassie Ventura, testified Tuesday she took out a mortgage and wired $20,000 to Combs’ file label Bad Boy on Combs’ request in 2011 as a result of she was “scared about my daughter’s safety.”
Cassie Ventura, house for the vacations in December 2011, instructed her mom that an offended Combs beat her when he realized she was romantically concerned with the rapper Kid Cudi. Her mom photographed the bruises to “memorialize” the abuse, she testified because the jury considered the images.
Cassie Ventura additionally despatched her mom an e mail from her daughter, utilizing the alias “Veronica Bang,” saying Combs had threatened to launch two express tapes of her, together with one round Christmas Day, Regina Ventura testified.
“He has also said that he will be having someone hurt me and Scott Mescudi physically (he made a point that it wouldn’t be by his hands, he actually said he’d be out of the country when it happened),” the e-mail mentioned.
Cassie Ventura testified final week that her relationship with Mescudi, the musician who goes by the title Kid Cudi, prompted Combs to threaten them each. She mentioned she broke up with Kid Cudi quickly after to maintain them secure.
On the stand Tuesday, Regina Ventura mentioned she felt “physically sick” when she learn the e-mail, which was additionally despatched to considered one of Combs’ staff.
“I did not understand a lot of it. The sex tapes threw me. I did not know the other person but knew that he was going to try to hurt my daughter,” she mentioned.
Around that very same time, Combs contacted Regina Ventura and her husband, she mentioned. “He was going to need $20,000 to recoup money he had spent on her because he was angry that she had been in a relationship with Scott Mescudi,” she testified.
Regina Ventura went to the credit score union, took a house fairness mortgage to acquire the $20,000, and then wired the cash to the Bad Boy account, she testified. About 4 or 5 days later, the cash was returned to her account, however she didn’t have any communications with Combs about it, Ventura testified.
The protection didn’t ask her any questions.
A male exotic dancer nicknamed “The Punisher” testified Tuesday he was paid to have sexual encounters with Ventura in lodge rooms whereas Combs watched and instructed them what to do.
“My understanding was we were creating a scene, a sexy scene, that was enjoyable to her partner,” testified Sharay Hayes.
Hayes mentioned the liaisons started with him and Ventura placing child oil on one another whereas Combs watched and directed them. He was instructed to disregard Combs and attempt not to take a look at him, he testified.
The encounters, which typically lasted about 4 hours, usually escalated into intercourse with Ventura, he testified. Hayes normally acquired $1,200 or $2,000 after a session. He mentioned he by no means used medication with Ventura and Combs and by no means noticed Combs take medication or seem intoxicated.
On cross-examination, he mentioned that as an skilled exotic dancer, he all the time reads a room to ensure everyone seems to be comfy.
“I did not get any cues that there was a discomfort with what was going on,” he testified. “It seemed as if it was consented, as far as I was concerned.”
Hayes is the second person to testify within the trial about sexual encounters with the previous couple. Prosecutors have mentioned Combs used medication and violence to coerce Ventura into taking part in these “Freak Offs” that would final for days.
Gerard Gannon, particular agent with Homeland Security Investigations, testified Tuesday in regards to the search of Combs’ Miami Beach house wherein they discovered weapons, ammunition and child oil.
New footage from raid on Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ home
Gannon was the particular agent in cost on the bottom for the search of Combs’ Star Island home on March 25, 2024. About 80-90 regulation enforcement brokers participated within the search due to the scale of the property, he mentioned.
Agents used their automobile to interrupt by way of the entrance gate to enter the property, Gannon testified. He mentioned it was commonplace apply when conducting a search warrant because the “quickest and safest option to be able to get onto the property.”
In the search of Combs’ bed room closet, brokers discovered elements of AR-15 firearms with scratched out serial numbers and two loaded magazines, in addition to seven-inch platform high-heeled sneakers, intercourse toys, child oil, private lubricant and lingerie, Gannon testified.
Gannon rose from the witness stand and picked baggage of proof off a metallic cart beside him. After placing blue latex gloves on his fingers, he minimize open one of many clear proof baggage and pulled out a part of an AR-15 rifle. Gannon held it in his fingers in entrance of his physique and walked a number of steps towards the jury so they might see the weapon.
Gannon is predicted to proceed to testifying in regards to the search Wednesday morning.