Cassie Ventura’s mother testified today in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex-trafficking trial following testimony from the music mogul’s former assistant, David James.
Regina Ventura testified that Combs threatened to release explicit footage of Cassie unless her family paid him $20,000. Combs wanted to “recoup” the money he spent on Cassie after finding out she was dating Kid Cudi in 2011, Regina said.
Regina and her husband had to take out a home equity loan to make the payment, she said. The money ended up back in Regina’s account a few days later, but Combs never spoke to her about it, she testified.
Earlier today, James testified that he would pack drugs like Percocet and ecstasy in Combs’s travel medicine bag. The ex-assistant witnessed Combs taking these drugs, he testified. James would also procure baby oil, condoms and snacks for Combs’s hotel rooms, he told the jury.
It follows bombshell testimony from Ventura’s former best friend Kerry Morgan and singer Dawn Richard, who attempted to corroborate Ventura’s allegations of physical and psychological abuse against Combs.
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.
Sharay Hayes pauses testimony for lunch break
The judge has paused Sharay Hayes’s testimony so the jury can take a lunch break.
Court will resume around 1 p.m.
Katie Hawkinson20 May 2025 17:34
Sharay Hayes describes first encounter with Diddy and Cassie
Sharay Hayes, a male exotic dancer known as “The Punisher,” says he first met Sean “Diddy” Combs and Cassie Ventura at Trump International Hotel in New York City.
Hayes said he went there assuming he’d be giving a 30- to 45-minute strip tease for a small group.
When he arrived, Hayes said Ventura greeted him at the door and explained she didn’t want him to dance. Instead, Hayes said she wanted him to help “her and [her] husband liked to create a sexy scene.”
Ventura was wearing a wig and Hayes said he didn’t recognize her. Combs was there as well, but Hayes said he didn’t recognize him either.
“I was specifically told to not acknowledge her husband, try not to look at him, no communication or anything,” Hayes testified.
After explaining, Hayes said Ventura handed him $800.
Katie Hawkinson20 May 2025 17:32
Sharay Hayes takes the stand
Regina Ventura’s testimony has ended without cross-examination.
Sharay Hayes, a male exotic dancer whose stage name is “The Punisher,” is now testifying.
Katie Hawkinson20 May 2025 17:19
Jury sees photos Cassie’s mom took of her injuries
Cassie Ventura’s mother took photos of her injuries allegedly caused by Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“She was bruised and I wanted to make sure we memorialize it,” Regina Ventura told the jury as they viewed the photos.
Cassie’s mom testifies Diddy wanted $20,000 for daughter’s sex tape
Sean “Diddy” Combs threatened to release Cassie Ventura’s sex tape after discovering her 2011 relationship with rapper Kid Cudi, the singer’s mother testified.
“I was physically sick,” Regina Ventura said. “I did not understand it, the sex tape threw me. He was trying to hurt my daughter.”
Combs wanted $20,000 for the video, which Regina said she paid with a loan because she was “scared” for her daughter’s safety.
Regina said he was angry Cassie was with Kid Cudi and wanted to “recoup” the money he spent on her.
“We took a home equity loan and that was the only way we could get the money,” she said.
The money ended up back in Regina’s account a few days later, but Combs never spoke to her about it, she testified.
Cassie Ventura’s mom says it was ‘harder to get to her’ when she dated Diddy
Cassie Ventura’s mom, Regina Ventura, told the jury it was “harder to get to” her daughter after she started dating Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Regina recalled seeing her daughter three or four times a year when she was living in New York and first started seeing Combs. But once Cassie moved to California with him, Regina said she saw her daughter less often.
Katie Hawkinson20 May 2025 16:54
Cassie Ventura’s mother takes the stand
Cassie Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura, has been called to the witness stand.
David James’s testimony has now ended.
Katie Hawkinson20 May 2025 16:45
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.”
Katie Hawkinson20 May 2025 16:44
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.
Katie Hawkinson20 May 2025 16:40
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.
