Diddy’s alleged drug provider, Brendan Paul, to testify in intercourse trafficking trial

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Jurors in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial will hear from a detailed ally of the rapper when former Syracuse basketball participant Brendan Paul takes the stand Friday.

Paul grew to become embroiled in Diddy's authorized drama in April 2024, after he was named in a lawsuit filed by Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones in opposition to the disgraced mogul. The music producer claimed Paul labored as a "mule" for Combs, procuring and distributing "medicine and weapons." The previous school basketball star was then charged with felony cocaine possession, which was later dropped.

Paul was given immunity in trade for his testimony in Diddy's federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial.

Nicole Blank Becker defined that Paul could also be an important witness to the federal government because it makes an attempt to tie up free ends and wrap its case in opposition to Diddy.

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Sean "Diddy" Combs' alleged drug mule, Brendan Paul, is anticipated to testify Friday. (Getty Pictures)

"On this specific case, why [Brendan Paul] could also be vital is as a result of he's allegedly one of many people who provided the medicine," Becker advised Fox Information Digital. "The distribution of medication, giving different folks medicine to make them intoxicated and presumably do greater than they'd do had they not been intoxicated – that is a predicate felony.

"In different phrases, with the intention to show this specific cost of racketeering, there's received to be quite a lot of different felonies that they will join," the lawyer stated. "Whether or not it is the coercion of ladies and/or they indicated about how ... [Diddy] introduced [escorts] in. That is one solution to show a predicate. You must show two of them. So, one other solution to show a predicate felony is carry within the man who supposedly is the one who was supplying P. Diddy and or his folks with what [the government is] gonna say, the medicine that he used [on others.]"

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Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy (RICO); intercourse trafficking by pressure, fraud or coercion; and transportation to interact in prostitution in a federal indictment unsealed Sept. 17.

All through two weeks of testimony, jurors heard allegations of "freak off" events involving male escorts and Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The "Me & U" singer testified that medicine, together with ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine, had been in common circulation through the "freak offs" for her to disassociate through the periods.

Cassie admitted ecstasy made her really feel euphoric and aroused, whereas ketamine would make her dissociative. She stated cocaine made her coronary heart race, mushrooms made her see issues and GHB, often known as the date rape drug, made her really feel drunk.

One other ex, who testified under the pseudonym "Jane," advised prosecutors there have been instances she felt coerced into resort nights with Diddy and that the Dangerous Boy Information founder nonetheless pays for each her authorized charges and hire.

Diddy's alleged drug mule, Brendan Paul, appeared in courtroom to testify within the rapper's trial. (John Lamparski)

Brendan Paul was pictured in proof submitted for Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal indictment. (United States Federal Court docket Southern District New York)

Jane recalled alleged situations of abuse whereas relationship Diddy on and off for 3 years and up till the week earlier than he was arrested in New York Metropolis on federal prices. Jane told the court Diddy requested her about coercion after he allegedly pressured her to take medicine earlier than having intercourse with a male escort. She testified about Diddy's alleged violent habits and stated he as soon as put her in a chokehold after kicking and punching her.

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Diddy's prison protection lawyer, Teny Geragos, questioned Jane about her relationship with the rapper and her participation within the allegedly pressured "resort nights."

Diddy paid Jane's hire by means of their "love contract," in line with her testimony. The ex-girlfriend advised the prosecution she felt obligated to carry out at "resort nights" for the rapper as a result of he had threatened to cease paying for her residence. For "resort nights," Jane claimed she was anticipated to decorate in lingerie and have intercourse with different males in entrance of the rapper.

Audio launched in Diddy's intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial featured the rapper calling Jane a "crack pipe." Jane claimed she was pressured to proceed having intercourse with a number of male escorts after changing into sick.

Cassie Ventura wiped away tears whereas testifying in opposition to Diddy. (Jane Rosenberg)

Audio launched in Diddy's intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial featured the rapper calling his Jane a "crack pipe." (Jane Rosenberg)

Becker, who works as R. Kelly's protection lawyer, defined why the federal government would possibly supply immunity to witnesses the federal government needs to testify. In Diddy's intercourse trafficking case, Paul was the fifth witness granted immunity.

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"It is extremely widespread, particularly in federal circumstances, that immunity is given to witnesses if they've the data or the perception that they want for his or her case," Becker stated. "Oftentimes, these people who're given immunity, though they could have crimes that they're both dealing with or confronted, they're often quite a bit much less within the hierarchy of crimes.

"They're often decrease crimes by which the federal government says, 'You understand what, this data that this specific individual has is so vital that we're prepared to forego no matter you have received occurring within the prison part or division now right here in order that we will have you ever testify on this larger case.'

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"Their aim, i.e. the federal government, is to get in as a lot potential data from anyone who is aware of something."

Practically six weeks after the trial started, prosecutors indicated they'd relaxation their case by Friday. The rapper's authorized crew just lately advised Decide Arun Subramanian it'll want between two and 5 days to current its case, a stark distinction to its preliminary request of as much as two weeks with witnesses on the stand.

Becker famous there have been quite a lot of questions whether or not the federal government was "really proving something particular" to the fees Diddy confronted.

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"Sure, there was domestic violence. Sure, there was some … relationships and bodily violence taking place, however does that rise to the extent of what he is really charged with within the federal courtroom?" Becker stated. "I believe at the start there have been query marks in all places. Nonetheless, I believe as time goes on, what does the federal government do?

"They only throw up witness after witness. Though these particular person witnesses have their very own story, collectively they type what they're attempting to type, which is that this step beneath P. Diddy, who's up right here. And these people, every particular person individual has a job in what they're calling the enterprise."

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Becker stated this was the connection the federal government was trying to show to the 12 jurors.

Diddy was arrested and charged with a number of counts in September. (Shareif Ziyadat)

"In a vacuum, if we simply had the primary witness or we simply had Jane, who simply testified, folks, I believe, could be slightly confused, like, ‘Wait a minute.’ Possibly name him a nasty boyfriend, a nasty individual, a nasty husband for certain, primarily based on what we see, for instance, within the video," Becker stated. "However does that rise to the extent that the federal government must get to to ensure that an final verdict of responsible?

"I believe, like I stated, at the start, it was slightly shaky. Nonetheless, as time goes on, they can put of their totally different witnesses and actually form what they're attempting to form, which is to mainly, you realize, this cost of RICO in the USA. This has not, it was not initially made for functions of the way in which it is getting used now."