Diddy Scores Legal Win As Lil Rod's RICO Claims Are Dismissed By Judge
Diddy just scored a partial win in his sprawling tapestry of lawsuits. On Monday (Mar. 24), a judge dismissed claims that Sean Combs was not party to civil racketeering when he chose not to pay the producer for his work on Love Album. U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken declared that Jones failed to show that any damage had been done to his 'business or property.'
The federal judge stated that Combs' failure to pay the producer had no 'causal connection' to the RICO charges, Combs Global, or its former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram.
'[Combs'] alleged refusal to honor the contract with Jones is not itself a RICO predicate act, even if the contract breach resulted from Jones's refusal to participate in Combs's alleged racketeering scheme,' the judge wrote in their conclusion. 'In sum, whether or not Jones has adequately alleged the existence of a RICO enterprise, he has not tied the activities of that enterprise to defendants' breach of contract, or any other 'business or property' harm incurred by Jones.'
As for accusation the that Puffy committed a breach of contract, Judge Oetken pointed to New York state law, stating, 'Any contract that cannot be performed within one year is unenforceable unless it is in writing.'
However, this courthouse win shouldn't be celebrated by the Combs team for too long. Oetker ruled that Jones' claims of sex trafficking against the mogul and Khorram could proceed.
Judge Oetken reasoned that Jones' lawsuit met the 'necessary requirements' to establish a claim that Diddy broke state sex trafficking laws. The judge asserted that Lil Rod's description of Combs' allegedly groping his genitals and his anus and 'forcing him to solicit sex workers and perform sex acts to the pleasure of Mr. Combs' were enough to proceed.
'On numerous occasions, Combs allegedly recruited or enticed Jones to solicit and perform sex acts with commercial sex workers, as well as transported Jones across state and international borders in order to do so,' the judge wrote in his 31-page opinion. 'Combs allegedly secured Jones's compliance with his requests both by promising economic benefits that never materialized and by threatening Jones with physical restraint and harm.'
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Lil Rod's lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, celebrated Judge Oetken's decision, declaring, 'A win is a win. The case is still alive. Diddy and [Khorram] better prepare for [the] deposition.'
Sean Combs has consistently fought back against Lil Rod's claims, issuing numerous statements denying any wrongdoing.
'Mr. Jones' lawsuit is pure fiction,' his legal team wrote in 2024 regarding claims that Puffy sexually assaulted Jones. 'A shameless attempt to create media hype and extract a quick settlement. There was no RICO conspiracy, and Mr. Jones was not threatened, groomed, assaulted, or trafficked. We look forward to proving — in a court of law — that all of Mr. Jones's claims are made-up and must be dismissed.'
Khorram recently hit back at the claims against her, saying in a statement, 'The idea that I could be accused of playing a role in — or even being a bystander to — the rape of anyone is beyond upsetting, disturbing, and unthinkable. That is not who I am, and my heart goes out to all victims of sexual assault. I am confident that the allegations against me will be proven to be untrue.'
Meanwhile, Diddy is currently behind bars, where he will stay through his trial which begins on May 5, 2025.
More from VIBE.com
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Recap of ‘Diddy' trial: ‘Jane' says Sean Combs threatened to cut her off financially over sexual ‘hotel nights'
A woman using the pseudonym 'Jane' took the stand for a second day of salacious testimony at the end of the fourth week of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal criminal trial. Jane's testimony comes as the prosecution seeks to show Combs and his inner circle used violence, lies, drugs, and other means to coerce Jane and Cassie Ventura into having sex with other men as part of drug-fueled sexual performances known as 'hotel nights' or 'Freak Offs.' Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. His defense has acknowledged Combs was violent but has questioned the motives of those testifying and said the women consented to the sexual activity. Jane began testifying Thursday afternoon and is expected to return to the stand next week to continue her testimony and cross-examination. Here's what we learned in testimony Friday. Jane, who dated Combs from 2021 to 2024, testified that Combs falsely promised he'd spend quality time alone with her and dismissed her repeated requests to stop participating in his sexual 'hotel nights.' Jane said that Combs promised her the things she wanted, like date nights and quality time, but said he wanted to have 'hotel nights' first. She would agree, but then afterward they'd be too exhausted and 'spent the rest of our free time sleeping,' she testified. 'I need a breather and a break from you,' she wrote in a text message, read aloud in court Friday, from November 2021 after seeing Combs spend quality time with another woman shortly after Jane had a 'hotel night' with him. 'This doesn't make me feel good at all. Your true intentions with me are in plain sight.' Jane testified that they had a 'hotel night' on her birthday in 2022 in which she had sex with another man at Combs' direction. Soon after, she saw on social media that Combs had a 'big grandiose birthday' for another woman he was dating, and the contrast was 'heartbreaking,' Jane said. 'I don't ever want to do another hotel night,' she texted Combs around that time. 'I didn't want to do those things with you on my birthday but I wanted to make sure we had a good time.' In 2023, Combs suggested she fly to New York to visit him, but she was hesitant because she figured he'd want to have a 'hotel night' while she was there, she testified. He promised her they would have a romantic time just the two of them, so she agreed to go, she said. But when she was mid-air, Combs texted her about getting 'entertainment' for them, and she felt 'really disappointed,' she testified. Jane said they bickered 'about just how I was done with this and I didn't want to do this and like why every time I see you this is happening.' They ended up having a 'hotel night' that night, she testified. Jane also recounted two times when the man brought in for the 'hotel night' was someone she was not attracted to, and how Combs kept pushing for her to try and engage with him regardless. Regarding one of those times, in 2023, Jane testified Combs said to her, 'Are you sure? Maybe just a little bit' even though she said she knew that 'this was definitely not something that I could fake doing.' She said they eventually excused the man because she was 'repulsed by him,' and then another man came to the hotel after. Jane said she and Combs entered into a 'love contract' in 2023 in which he agreed to pay her $10,000-per-month rent as an allowance. He is still paying for her rent, even now, she testified on Friday. She also testified he threatened to cut her off financially if she stopped participating in 'hotel nights.' In text messages from August 2023 that were read aloud in court, amid a discussion about a 'hotel night,' Combs told her he put $15,000 on credit for things in her new house. When Jane then expressed hesitation about having the 'hotel night,' in part because she was having her period, Combs became angry and accused her of using him for money, according to the texts. Days later, she expressed frustrations to Combs with how he treated her, and Combs sent her an audio message threatening to stop financially supporting her. 'I'm about to really disappear on you, you feel me?' Combs said in the audio message that was played aloud in court for the jury. He said she had a 'rude awakening' coming if she didn't stop fighting him. 'You better get on your job, that's all it is,' Combs said. 'Because you got me on my job.' Jane testified that she understood her 'job' was 'taking care of him, being good to him and making sure he was happy,' which included the sexual encounters. She said his 'job' was taking care of her financially. Jane also texted Combs that he had been 'making things feel completely transactional lately' and was 'threatening me any chance that you get.' She testified that Combs was constantly reminding her that he paid for her home. Around the time when she and Combs entered into their 'love contract,' Combs also paid for Jane to get veneers 'because he didn't like my teeth,' Jane testified. At one point thereafter when Jane texted him complaining that she hadn't seen him alone outside of a hotel room for the 'hotel nights,' Combs responded, 'Well get over it please. Look at the roof over your head and that pretty smile. I don't want to do anything if that's still an issue.' In late 2023, she sent him messages saying she didn't want to play this role in his life anymore. 'I feel it's the only reason you have me around and why you pay for the house,' she wrote. 'I don't want to feel obligated to perform these nights for you.' Combs responded to the text, 'Girl stop.' The jury heard audio from a 'hotel night' in which Combs was dismissive of a request from Jane to have her male sex partner wear a condom. The audio was an excerpt from a video recording of a 'hotel night' that captured a conversation between Jane, Combs and a man named Don. On the recording, Jane said, 'you promised' to Combs, who expressed his disapproval. Jane said on the stand that she and Combs had a conversation before that 'hotel night' in which he told her it would be okay if she wanted the man she would have sex with to wear a condom. He eventually gave the 'entertainer' a condom, Jane said. She said she asked Combs to allow the 'entertainers' to wear condoms several times, but Combs was typically dismissive. Jane was asked why she needed Combs' permission to have the man wear a condom, and Jane seemed to get emotional and said she was 'still trying to process' that. She said she didn't insist on the man wearing a condom because then Combs would be 'unhappy.' At another point in her testimony, the jury saw 15 photos that weren't released to the public (none of the exhibits were shown to the public in court). Jane testified that each of the photos showed her and another man during a 'hotel night' and that Combs was present for all of the nights pictured. One female juror placed her hand over her face as the sexually explicit photos were displayed on the screens in front of them. Jane testified that when Combs would run out of drugs during a 'hotel night,' he'd call an assistant, a butler or one of his security guards to bring more. She recalled a time in 2022 when Combs directed her to pick up drugs from security personnel at his Los Angeles home and fly with them to meet him in Miami. She communicated with Combs' aide Kristina Khorram about picking up the 'package' at Combs' home. Jane said she asked Khorram if this was 'safe and okay,' and Khorram said, 'It's fine I do it all the time.' Jane flew with the drugs to Miami and later took ecstasy with Combs that she said came from the package. Jane testified that Combs gave her drugs during the 'hotel nights' that kept her awake for longer and made it easier for her to participate in the 'fantasy.' Jane cried and was emotional as she detailed one 'hotel night' in which she had sex with three other men, at Combs' insistence, on her birthday. Jane said she flew to Miami in 2023 to celebrate her birthday with Combs and he told her they'd spend quality time together. When they went to dinner, Combs brought up plans for a 'hotel night,' and she reluctantly agreed to participate. Jane said the first man who showed up that she never met before felt like a stranger and it was upsetting. 'More of an invasive moment because it was my birthday and I didn't want to do this on my birthday,' she said, crying. After the man left, Jane and Combs moved to a different suite at the hotel and Combs 'shifted his energy' and became more loving. He had arranged for cake, flowers and balloons in the suite, and they had some alone time, she said. But then another man came to the room for sex, and then a third man. 'I acted like it was nothing, but inside I hated it,' she said, adding between tears that she acted that way because she loved Combs. On the stand, Jane grew very emotional while discussing the birthday. She heaved more than once as she cried, and prosecutor Maurene Comey asked her repeatedly if she needed a break. Each time Jane said no. At another point in her testimony, a box of tissues was passed to her in the witness box by the courtroom deputy. After that birthday, Combs left her in the room and went on a private vacation with another romantic interest, Jane testified. According to messages read aloud in court, she texted him, 'Why do you lie to me?' She wrote to him that she wanted to get off the 'hamster wheel' and said, 'I didn't want to do all of that on my birthday.' Jane said she and Combs were on a break for about a month after that, but got back together.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘I was repulsed': Diddy ex-girlfriend recounts sex marathons with strangers
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Yahoo
5 hours ago
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Norfolk judge grants bond to Harris Teeter guard accused of assault
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk General District Court judge granted bond to the Harris Teeter security guard accused of beating a man inside the store. Kharel Jones-White is facing one charge of malicious wounding related to the incident. He was working as an armed, uniformed security guard on the evening of June 2. Several family members and Harris Teeter employees as well as a man who said he was White-Jones' boss at the security company were in court to testify and show support. NPD: Man seriously injured after assault at W Ocean View Ave. Harris Teeter A witness in the case testified that White-Jones and the victim entered the store at the same time that night. A short time later, the witness said, White-Jones approached him and told him there was an issue with the man. 'The victim kept going at [White-Jones],' the store employee told the court, describing antagonizing behavior. Then, a physical altercation broke out between the two men. The witness told the court that White-Jones had the man in a headlock. Then, the man attempted to grab White-Jones' holstered handgun. White-Jones then stepped away to hand the gun to an employee, according to the witness. At some point, the victim began attempting to hit or stab White-Jones with a gold object, according to the witness and the defense attorney. The witness said the victim was trying to strike back during the entire incident. The commonwealth's attorney on the case opposed the bond motion, arguing that White-Jones had exercised excessive force, breaking the victim's eye socket and spilling 'a substantial amount of blood.' The prosecutor said that video, which was not show in court, captured the incident and showed White-Jones using OC spray before straddling the victim and punching him in the eye. 'This looks like that scene from 'No Country for Old Men,'' the judge remarked, when shown images from the security video. White-Jones' attorney said that he followed DCJS (Department of Criminal Justice Services) protocol. The judge ultimately released White-Jones on a $7,500 personal recognizance bond. He's prohibited from contacting the victim. A preliminary hearing date was set for August 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
