The mother of Casandra Ventura Fine, known as "Cassie," said her daughter told her that Sean "Diddy" Combs was threatening to release sex tapes of Cassie on Christmas Day in 2011 after he found out she was dating rapper Kid Cudi.
Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, is expected to testify in the trial this week — possibly as soon as Wednesday.
The accusation came during Regina Ventura's testimony in Combs's ongoing federal criminal trial on Tuesday.
The 55-year-old music mogul is on trial in New York for charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering. He has pleaded not guilty and is facing a life sentence behind bars.
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Most of the first week of Combs' trial centered around Cassie's testimony, in which she accused him of being sexually, physically and psychologically abusive to her over their decade-long relationship. Her allegations included that he controlled every aspect of her life so that she couldn't leave him, that she felt like a sex worker and that when she tried to break it off, he raped her.
Ventura said on Tuesday that Combs was angry about Cassie and Mescudi's relationship and that he told her he needed $20,000 as a reimbursement for what he had spent on Cassie.
Ventura said she was worried for her daughter's safety and that she and her husband took out a home equity loan and wired the money to him. Days later, the money was wired back without an explanation.
Combs' attorneys did not ask Ventura any questions.
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Sex toys, platform heels and AR-15 parts found in Combs's closets
Gerard Gannon, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, was the tenth witness called by the prosecution in the trial. He said the search of Combs's Miami Beach home on March 25, 2024 was assigned to his unit because of its ties to a human-trafficking investigation.
Nearly 100 law enforcement agents were part of the search because of the size of the property, Gannon said. The team waited for Combs to leave before executing the search warrant.
Agents used a vehicle to break through the property's front gate around 3 p.m. ET and then searched the home.
Gannon testified that agents found platform high heels, sex toys, baby oil, personal lubricant and lingerie in one of the closets in the primary bedroom of the home. The agents also found parts of AR-15s with their serial numbers scratched off in one of the closets, including two loaded magazines and receivers.
The jury was shown photos of the items found inside the home.
Male escort, "The Punisher," claims he never saw filming or violence
Sharay Hayes, a male escort and exotic dancer who said he was hired by Combs and Cassie in 2012, claimed he never saw any filming of his sexual acts with Cassie and that he never witnessed Combs get violent with her.
Hayes said he would always meet the couple at a hotel in New York City, and he would be contacted by Cassie — who used a different name — hours beforehand to discuss the plans for the encounters.
During his testimony, he said he did not know the man in the room with him and Cassie during their encounters was Combs and that Combs would give subtle directions to them while watching.
Hayes claimed Combs and Cassie did not appear to be under the influence of drugs during the eight to 12 times he met with the couple to perform sex acts with Cassie.
Former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs testifies about demanding work conditions
David James worked as one of Combs's assistants from 2007 to 2009. He testified that his job included everything from making sure Combs's breakfast was up to his standards to procuring illicit drugs for him and his friends.
He described how he would set up hotel rooms before Combs's arrival. James claimed this would include organizing Combs's clothing, his toiletry bag that contained about 40 products, a medicine bag that contained 25 to 30 bottles of drugs like ecstasy and Percocet and personal items — such as lube, baby oil and condoms.
James claimed Combs' security would reimburse him for the items with cash. He also noted that Combs' favorite hotel to stay in in New York City was the Trump International.
The former assistant said it was a demanding job that often included him going weeks without a day off. He testified that one of Combs' other assistants had to be hospitalized for dehydration after working with Combs for 24 hours straight.
He claimed there was a phrase used to describe the work life under Combs: "If you're tired, you'll get fired."
James testified that he resigned from the position after a situation that made him feel unsafe. That incident included him having to hold handguns while Combs and his security allegedly tried to confront his career rival Marion "Suge" Knight Jr. at a diner in Los Angeles.
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During his testimony on Monday, James said he didn't have a lot of interactions with Cassie, but he recalled speaking with her in Miami within the first year of working for Combs, in which he alleged Cassie said, "I can't get out" when she was asked about leaving the lifestyle.
James testified that he was with Combs when a business associate asked Combs about Cassie and his late ex-partner and mother to some of his children, Kim Porter. James said Combs described Porter as his "queen" but referred to Cassie as "young" and "moldable."
This is a developing story that will be updated.
