Diddy trial recap: Male escort ‘The Punisher’ testified about first ‘freak off’ with Sean Combs and Cassie
Exotic dancer Sharay Hayes and Cassie Ventura’s mother testified in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s New York sex trafficking trial on Tuesday
Male exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, also known as “The Punisher,” testified about his “freak offs” with Sean “Diddy” Combs and Cassie Ventura on day seven of the music mogul’s trial.
Hayes said he first met Combs and Ventura at a Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York City. Hayes explained he didn’t recognize the pair at first and thought he was there to perform a striptease. But Ventura told him that “her and [her] husband liked to create a sexy scene” and handed him $800, he testified.
Hayes said he met the pair again eight to 12 times and eventually recognized them.
Ventura’s mother also testified Tuesday, claiming Combs threatened to release explicit footage of Cassie unless her family paid him $20,000. Regina Ventura took out a home equity loan to make the payment, she said, but the money was returned to her account several days later.
Rapper Kid Cudi, who dated Ventura in 2011, is expected to take the stand later this week.
Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. Combs was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
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Diddy had ex-assistant David James take lie detector tests
David James said his then-boss Sean “Diddy” Combs had him take a lie detector test at least twice while working for him.
In the first incident, Combs brought in a former FBI agent who specialized in polygraph tests to interview James after some of his money went missing.
Combs then had James take a second test after one of his watches went missing.
"It was very intimidating," James testified. "I had never taken a lie detector test before."
James worked for Combs from 2007 to 2009.
David James recounts finding Cassie unresponsive in a hotel room
David James said he once found Cassie Ventura unresponsive in a hotel room.
James said he was tasked with bringing an iPod to Sean “Diddy” Combs’s hotel room on a trip to Miami in 2008. When he entered, he saw Ventura lying on her back in the bed with the comforter pulled up to her chin.
“She did not move when I entered the room,” he said.
A man James didn’t know was also in the room while Combs was showering.
"I never spoke to them about it, I just thought they were doing personal things," James added. "I never had conversations with Cassie or Mr. Combs about their personal affairs."
David James recounts Suge Knight incident
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant David James testified about an incident involving the music mogul’s rival, Suge Knight.
James said he went with Combs’s security guard to a diner for food one evening. While they were there, Combs’s security guard saw Knight and approached him, James testified.
The two returned to Combs’s home and found him arguing with Cassie Ventura outside, James said.
After they revealed what happened, James said Combs ordered them to drive him to the diner to find his rival. Combs sat in the backseat with a gun, James testified. Knight was gone by the time they arrived.
James said he felt he was in danger during the incident.
"I was really shook up by it," James testified. "This was the first time as his assistant that I realized my life was in danger.
“I told them I want to leave but give six months notice so I could train the next assistant,” he added.
Ventura testified about the same incident last week, similarly telling the jury that Combs left his home to search for Knight while armed.
Defense tries to poke holes in David James's testimony
David James is now being cross-examined by defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, who is pointing out inconsistencies in his previous statements about the Suge Knight incident.
Agnifilo said James previously told prosecutors the entire incident ended before he returned to Combs’s house. James responded that the government had instructed him not to say anything that could incriminate himself.
At another point, Agnifilo said James claimed the incident happened outside the diner, rather than inside as he testified today.
James said he didn’t remember making that claim.
“I think these are inaccurate notes,” James replied.
David James describes procuring drugs for Diddy's friends
David James said he obtained drugs for Sean “Diddy” Combs’s friends while working as his assistant.
The drugs included ecstasy and cocaine, James testified today. He recounted one incident in which Combs’s friend asked him to procure cocaine while in Saint-Tropez. Combs didn’t ask him directly, James said.
Meanwhile, Combs would have James prepare hotel rooms for him by stocking them with various items, including baby oil, skincare products and snacks, the ex-assistant testified.
Ex-assistant describes Combs's travel and behavior
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant David James said the music mogul’s travel often straddled a “fine line” between business and personal.
James traveled extensively with Combs.
James said people would “mob around” Combs when he went out in public. Combs didn’t sign autographs, James testified.
David James says fellow assistant went to hospital after long work day
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant David James told the jury a fellow assistant once went to the hospital for dehydration after working for 24 hours straight, CNN reports.
Yesterday, James said he would often work 20-hour days.
Defense questions ex-assistant on claim Diddy called Cassie 'moldable'
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo brought up David James’s testimony from yesterday that Sean “Diddy” Combs told him Cassie Ventura was “moldable” and “right where I want her, she’s young.”
James told Agnifilo that this conversation happened very early in Combs’s relationship with Ventura.
James worked from Combs from 2007 to 2009.
Diddy told David James not to 'put your hands on a woman' after altercation, ex-assistant testified
David James told the jury he got into an altercation with Sean “Diddy” Combs’s personal chef at the music mogul’s home in Florida.
James said he “grabbed” her wrists and “squeezed” them, telling her to “stay in your...lane.”
Combs confronted him about it afterward, James testified.
"I told him what happened and he said, 'You can't put your hands on a woman,’” James testified.
Combs then asked him to write the chef a note and give her a gift, which he did, James said.
David James recalls concerns about potential 'false' police report for Diddy
David James testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs once got into a physical altercation with his then-personal chef, Jourdan Atkinson.
Combs then asked James to file a police report stating Atkinson hit him first, the ex-assistant testified.
But James didn’t file the report because he was concerned it would be false.
“I did not file it because I did not want to make a false report,” James said. “I went out and came back and told him I made the report."