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Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York began winding down their sprawling case against Sean Combs in the sixth week of the hip-hop mogul’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial,showing the jury several charts that tied elements of their case together.
Charging Combs with the sex trafficking of his ex-girlfriend casandra “Cassie” Ventura and “Jane,” as well as two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, prosecutors used copious records to show how Combs used his businesses to fund flights for Ventura, Jane, and various male escorts to participate in days-long sexual encounters known as “freak-offs.”
Linking back to a range of documents – including photos, text messages, bank statements, hotel records, and travel itineraries – prosecutors where able to identify more than a dozen instances where combs paid for the flights of a male escort to fly cross-country between 2009 and 2024.
Among the records were hotel invoices for thousands of dollars worth of damages in the aftermath of alleged corresponding freak-offs. housekeeping photos attached to the expensive bills showed messy suites, baby oil-soaked duvets, soiled sheets, and blood-stained linens.
This week also brought Combs’ recent former employee to the stand, Brendan Paul, who has been referred to as Combs’ alleged drug “mule” in various civil lawsuits. The 26-year-old was arrested for cocaine possession when federal officials pulled up on Combs during the March 2024 raids on his homes. When asked by Combs’ defense attorney Brian Steel if he agreed with the “mule” descriptor, Paul laughed. “Absolutely not,” he said.
Paul said it was his own mistake the drugs were found in his personal luggage, saying he had earlier swept Combs’ room and accidentally stashed the substance in his bags. he didn’t tell police the drugs weren’t his out of “loyalty.”
Still, Paul admitted to purchasing and delivering drugs to Combs between five and 10 times throughout his 18-month tenure as Combs’ personal assistant, adding he considered the amount equated to “personal use.” Paul said he paid between $300 and $500 for “hard drugs,” such as ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and tusi. Separately, he said he helped restock Combs’ supply of marijuana every other month, paying $4,200 for two strains of weed at eight ounces each.
Although brief, Paul’s testimony was used to bolster prosecutors’ charge of a racketeering conspiracy against Combs. The 55-year-old, who pleaded not guilty to five felony charges, is accused of using his billion-dollar empire as a criminal enterprise. In the background of his business dealings, Combs allegedly kept a stash of illicit substances that he sometimes distributed to others and allegedly instructed a team of loyal staffers to carry out acts of bribery, arson, and kidnapping.
Here are the key moments from the trial’s sixth week:
Jury Issues
After last week’s heated debate over whether one of the jurors could continue serving in light of the 41-year-old Department of Corrections employee’s conflicting answers over his residence,U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed the man on Monday.
“Even if this juror had an excuse or explanation for the inconsistencies in the record, that would be yet another set of shifting answers on basic questions about the juror’s residence,” Subramanian said while issuing his ruling. “This would only heighten the specter that the juror’s trying to shade answers in an effort to remain on the jury.Simply put,there’s nothing the juror could say at this point that would put the genie back in the bottle and repair the damage to his credibility.”
Apart from the juror, there was a separate issue related to another juror last Friday. The courtroom was sealed as the parties discussed the matter, which had been considered resolved early in the week. However, details of the sealed meeting were leaked to a media outlet, prompting a stern warning from the judge Tuesday morning. “Somebody is lying,” Subramanian said after questioning both sides if the leak came from their camps. He added everyone “is on notice” that any further violation of his orders could result in civil or criminal sanctions.
Wednesday brought yet another juror hiccup, this time due to a juror experiencing a bout of vertigo, leading to court being canceled for the day.
Combs’ Crass Texts To Ventura After Alleged Beating
Prosecutors introduced a new set of text messages between Combs and Ventura Friday,as their relationship began to disintegrate. The messages were included as part of a summary chart compiling the dozens of times Combs and Ventura organized a freak-off as prosecutors allege Ventura was a sex trafficking victim through physical force and coercion.
The couple were in New York City when Combs texted Ventura on march 13, 2017 inquiring about a potential freak-off.
Nine hours later, after Ventura and Combs had a brief discussion about male escorts and exchanged information about a hotel room, Ventura texted Combs about an apparent physical altercation that had occured. “WTF. Really,” she writes. “I think it will always be black and white. You threw out all my shit. I can dig it … You [beat] my head in.”
The couple briefly argued over text, with Combs accusing Ventura of being “crazy” and “flipping” on him. “So we’re clear this time. we’re taking a break,” Combs asks. “This is really how you wanna leave this? You sure.”
“No, I just don’t want to be beat down for being defiant or ever,” Ventura responds. “You treat me and make me feel like I don’t matter.”
Combs then responds crassly, accusing Ventura of starting the fight for resisting him during a freak-off.”You really think you can have me jerk my dick for ten hours and not come,” Combs writes. “Your[[sic]nuts. One minute you down asking about shit. Then the next minute you acting like you doing something you don’t want to. Make up your minds. I’m trying to figure out how I get this nut out my dick.”
Days later,Ventura and Combs seemed to be in the process of making up.”I knew if I said no to it in New York, it would have been a problem,” Ventura writes. “those were my last nights with you. You only see me one way. You treat me like a hooker, to be honest.You always want to call one so bad, and you have one. This hooker has been here for 10 years.”
Ventura later adds, “Please don’t play victim.If you can, go to our last messages. That’s all you wanted, and that’s why I was upset. I love our FO’s when we both want it.”
Incessant Calls and $100,000 Alleged Payoff
The details surrounding the alleged $100,000 payoff are still emerging, but it is indeed believed to be related to attempts to silence or influence individuals involved in the case against Sean Combs.
Disclaimer: This article contains information about legal proceedings and allegations. it is indeed not intended to provide legal advice. Consult with a qualified professional for any legal concerns.
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