Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial Day 19 Recap: Security Guard says Combs pays $ 100,000 for the attack video

A hotel security guard on Tuesday told the jury at Sean’s “Diddy” Combs “Combs Gender Temption that Maestro Rap paid $ 100,000 in an effort to secure his silence and bury the video which is now the main proof in a crime case that threatened to send him to life imprisonment.

In the video captured in 2016 by a security camera at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles-and was shown to the jury during the testimony of three different witnesses-Kombs seen kicking and dragging his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Ventura, a musician who testified as a witness to the government star, said he tried to escape from the comb and one of the PORA parties triggered by drugs, called “Freakff.”

“When I chose to leave, I took what I could and I came out,” Ventura testified during the second week of the trial. “Sean followed me into the hall before the elevator and grabbed me, threw me to the ground, kicked me, [and] Trying to drag me back to the room. “

Combs claimed to be innocent for the accusations in this case. His lawyer had said that the Combs took “full responsibility” for domestic violence captured in the video but argued that the RAP maestro did not commit sex trading, extortion and prostitution conspiracy alleged by the Federal Prosecutor.

Hotel security guards Eddy Garcia testified on Tuesday that Combs panicked to ensure CCTV video never saw the light of the day, paying $ 100,000 to get what Combs thought was the only copy of the recording.

“He is worried that this video will come out and it will damage his career,” Garcia testified. According to Garcia, the Combs promised “He will take care of me” and finally pay $ 100,000 cash to the man who later called “Eddy My Angel.”

When the video was obtained by CNN last year, the criticism was fast and caused a comb to offer public apologies, saying that he was “really sorry” for his behavior and that he was “seeking professional help” after the incident.

The prosecutor believes that the payment of $ 100,000 Combs to Garcia is a bribe and one of the basic crimes in the heart of their accusation that the hip-hop superstar is guilty of extortion conspiracy. They accuse that Combs realize that the episode can reveal crime behavior for years and may attract curtains about how maestro uses its business kingdom to force women to become sex, threaten them to be silent, and protect their public reputation.

The trial will continue on Wednesday when three more witnesses are expected to take a stand.

Frank Piazza, a video expert, is expected to be the first witness followed by Bryana Bongolan, who accused the comb of threatening to kill him by hanging him on the balcony in front of Ventura. Bongolan made similar accusations in the civil case, which was rejected by Combs.

A woman called “Jane” is expected to take a stand on Wednesday afternoon and testify for five days, according to the prosecutor. Jane is expected to be the third and last victim to testify against the Combs.

Security guards testified about the alleged Combs efforts to bury the attack video

Garcia testified on Tuesday that he heard about the attack shortly after he entered for his shift at the Intercontinental Hotel on March 5, 2016. Garcia told the jury that he understood that law enforcement was not contacted at that time because Ventura did not ask for medical or police attention.

About an hour entered his turn, Garcia explained to the jury that he got an unexpected call on his telephone from the Assistant Combs Kristina Khorram, who asked for a copy of security videos. Although he told him that he needed to contact the hotel management or get a court call to see the recording, Garcia testified Khorram arrived at the hotel lobby one hour later to watch the recording.

“He asked about the video and if there is a way he can see it,” he said. “He wants to know what they are facing.”

Garcia said he apologized and said he could not show him, even though he testified he warned him, “From the note: it’s bad.”

That night, Garcia testified that he once again received a call in his personal cell from Khorram. He told the jury in a matter of seconds, a comb that “nervous” appeared at the end of the line, trying to explain his actions.

“He asks if I know who he is. I said yes,” Garcia said. “Mr. Combs sounds very nervous. Just talking very quickly. Just saying that he has a little too much to drink and that I know how to do with women when one thing leads to another.”

Garcia testified, “He stated that I sounded like a good person, that I sounded like I wanted to help, that something like this could destroy it. He was worried that this video would come out and it would damage his career.”

He said he also remembered the Combs telling him, “He will take care of me.” After Garcia told Combs that he would receive $ 100,000 in return for the video, Garcia testified that the Combs “sounded excited” and “called me ‘Eddy My Angel.'”

“He wants a video as soon as possible,” Garcia told the court. He explained that he was then given an address for about 20 minutes drive from the Intercontinental hotel, where he had to trade.

The security guard told me that he got $ 100,000 in cash from the Combs

As soon as he arrived at the location designated with a thumb drive containing what he said was the only copy of the video, Garcia told the court that someone who introduced himself when the Combs guard took him to an apartment. He testified that he remembered seeing the Combs “smiling, excited” and looked happy.

“Eddy my angel, he smiled. He said ‘in,’ made me feel comfortable,” said Garcia, Combs told him, adding that Combs instructed Khorram to make him a cup of tea.

After Garcia convinced Combs, Drive had one copy of the video, Mogul Rap was allegedly contacted Ventura on Facetime so he could communicate that he also wanted the video to leave.

He wore a hoodie, and the lighting is not too good, “Garcia said about Ventura.” Before he handed me the phone, he said, ‘Let him know that you want this to leave too.’ “

“And how did Cassie respond?” Prosecutor Mitzi Steiner asked.

“When I passed the phone, I said, ‘Hi’, he said ‘Hi’ and he said he had a movie out and it was not the right time to get out and he wanted it to leave,” Garcia answered.

Garcia told the judges that Combs demanded that he signed the Nondisclosure agreement, approved the certification that there was only one copy of the video, and submitting his ID and identification of his boss and colleague. Garcia then testified a comb leaving the room and returned with a brown bag and a money counter, which was eaten by a “pile of $ 10,000 at a time.

“In total, in the end it was $ 100,000,” he testified.

Garcia testified a comb and the bodyguard then accompanied him out of the suite and drove him to the servant where his car was parked.

“He asked me how I would spend the money, and I said I didn’t know,” Garcia testified. “He said he did not make a big purchase.”

A few weeks later, Garcia testified that she received a message from the Combs. “Congratulations Easter, Eddy my angel. God is good,” Garcia remembers the message, saying Combs “continue to ask if anyone asks about the video.” He said he didn’t hear anything.

The jury sees the alleged trail of extortion payment paper 2011

Following Garcia’s testimony about receiving a $ 100,000 payment from Combs, a prosecutor named Old Employee Combs Derek Ferguson to trace into the financial structure of the Combs business empire. The prosecutor believes that the Combs company multiplied as a criminal company that allows Mogul Rap to commit crimes for years with several impacts.

Ferguson, who worked as a Chief Financial Officer for Bad Boy Entertainment for 12 years, runs in the jury through a Bank Combs account, financial arrangements, how the business manages cash and how employees are replaced for costs charged to their company cards. Some Personal Assistants Combs testified about being assigned to buy supplies for strange people, including gallons of baby oil, sexual lubricants, drugs and alcohol.

The jury also saw a document showing a series of wire transfers in 2011 to and from Ms. Cassie Ventura. While Ferguson said he did not know the reason for payment of $ 20,000, the jury last month heard directly from Regina Ventura, who testified that she and her husband took a home equity loan to fund payments. He testified, the comb demanded to “replace” the money he spent for Cassie Ventura “because he was angry because he had a relationship with Scott Mescudi.” Mescudi is also a famous rapper, appearing with the name Kid Cudi.

The jury saw the December 14 transfer from the account formed to manage the Combs house in Alpine, New Jersey, to Cassie Ventura at a price of $ 20,000. On December 23, the same account received $ 20,000 from Venture’s father. Four days later, on December 27, the account was transferred $ 20,000 for “refund.”

Regina Ventura testified that she decided to send the money because she was afraid of the safety of her daughter after the Combs threatened to release an explicit video about her. The Combs finally returned the money, he said.

During a cross examination, Combs Lawyer Marc Agnifilo tried to use Ferguson’s experience for 19 years working with Combs to cause doubts about the way the prosecutor described the Combs business empire. .

“Did you see someone who helped Sean Combs commit a crime?” Agnifilo asked.

“No,” Ferguson answered.

“Did you see someone who helped Sean Combs commit acts of violence?” Agnifilo asked.

“No,” Ferguson answered

“Do you see something that makes the company stronger through the threat of violence?”

“NO.”