
Evidence depicting Diddy’s debauched lifestyle admitted as feds wrap up NYC sex trafficking case
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Evidence depicting Diddy’s debauched lifestyle admitted as feds wrap up NYC sex trafficking case
Prosecutors wrapped up their sex trafficking and racketeering case against Sean “Diddy’ Combs Monday. The trial continues Tuesday, more than seven weeks after the trial began. Prosecutors admitted at least 50 video files of sordid sexual performances created over four days in December. Combs’ defense team is no longer planning to question any witnesses, Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said Monday, having previously told the court they’d call three to the stand. It’s estimated the jury could be deliberating by Friday, according to Manhattan Federal Judge Arun Subramanian. The jury has heard extensive testimony from three women who described being sexually exploited by Combs during the freakoff performances. They’ve charged him with employing members of his inner circle — bodyguards and various high-ranking staffers — to scare and intimidate his rivals through through kidnapping, arson, drug distribution, sex bribery and obstruction.
Feds at the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office spent what’s slated to be the last full day of their case questioning summary witness Joseph Cerciello, an agent from the Department of Homeland Security who reviewed thousands of text messages, phone records and financial statements in the criminal investigation into Combs.
Within the caseload of records were texts between Combs and his top staffers, whom he allegedly directed to organize “freakoffs” or “wild king nights” — including travel arrangements for sex workers, hotel bookings and drugs like “Molly” and “medical grade” ketamine for the dayslong sex parties. Prosecutors also admitted at least 50 video files of sordid sexual performances created over four days in December 2021.
Prosecutors are on track to rest their case Tuesday, more than seven weeks after the trial began. Combs’ defense team is no longer planning to question any witnesses, Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said Monday, having previously told the court they’d call three to the stand. Manhattan Federal Judge Arun Subramanian has estimated the jury could be deliberating by Friday.
The 55-year-old Combs is facing the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison if found guilty. He’s pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, racketeering conspiracy, transportation to engage in prostitution and related counts.
The feds allege that the tens of millions of dollars Combs made building the Bad Boy Records empire funded a criminal enterprise designed to cater to his every desire. They’ve charged him with employing members of his inner circle — bodyguards and various high-ranking staffers — to scare and drug women into submission and intimidate his rivals through through kidnapping, arson, drug distribution, sex bribery and obstruction.
Ahead of the freakoff sessions, Combs’ employees, several of whom have testified under immunity deals, organized cash for escorts, drugs, flights, cars and hotel bookings made under fake names, according to trial testimony. Law enforcement witnesses have testified about copious quantities of baby oil, Astroglide and drugs recovered from Combs’ lavish properties and hotel rooms, in addition to defaced semiautomatic weapons and ammunition.
The jury has heard extensive testimony from three women who described being sexually exploited by Combs during the freakoff performances, being brutally beaten by Combs during explosive temper tantrums, and having their personal and professional reputations threatened when they tried to resist his impulses.
Combs’ ex of 11 years, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, and anonymous witness “Jane” described freakoffs as hardcore and coercive encounters that involved multiple days without sleep, fueled by cocktails of narcotics administered by Combs, who typically masturbated in a corner. Both women testified about Combs threatening to release footage he shot of the humiliating sessions as blackmail and being pressured to comply after he had pummeled them in beatings and while they were menstruating.
Staffers who didn’t follow Combs’ orders were subjected to violence and sexual assault themselves, alleged a former assistant, who testified under the alias “Mia.” She accused Combs of raping and sexually assaulting her and imprisoning her at his properties.
Combs’ defense has conceded that he is guilty of beating women. Still, they say he’s not legally accused of domestic violence and is innocent of the crimes charged — maintaining participants in freakoffs always gave their consent, that the events saw Combs indulge in his fetishes, not criminality, and that his companies were not a front for a criminal enterprise.
His legal team has sought to highlight the absence at the trial of many high-ranking staffers the jury has heard about, like Kristina Khorram, his alleged “right hand” who prosecutors haven’t questioned, instead establishing her role organizing freakoffs through extensive phone and email records.
The rap producer has been incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September arrest, having failed to persuade multiple judges to release him to house arrest on a $50 million bond.
The trial continues Tuesday.