Sean “Diddy” Combs paid a hotel security officer to hand over surveillance footage that showed the hip-hop mogul violently attacking his then-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, in a hallway, the officer testified on Tuesday at Combs’ sex trafficking trial.
Eddy Garcia, who had worked at an Intercontinental hotel, told jurors that Combs contacted him shortly after the incident and asked for the footage. Combs said he would “take care” of Garcia if he gave him the video, Garcia said.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five counts, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan say Combs over two decades, coerced women, including Ventura, to take part in drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers known as “Freak Offs.”
Jurors had previously been shown a March 2016 surveillance video from the hallway of the Intercontinental hotel in Los Angeles where Combs, wearing only a towel, threw Ventura to the ground, kicked her and dragged her away
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial in New York
Ventura said the incident occurred after Combs had given her a black eye during a “Freak Off.”
Garcia said he relayed Combs’ message about the video to his boss, who told him he would give Combs the video in exchange for $50,000.
The next day, Garcia testified he saw his boss enter the room that hosted servers for the surveillance cameras.
He said the boss gave him a USB drive, which he gave to Combs, who later returned with a brown bag and a money counter.
