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NBC News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
A 'criminal enterprise' may be emerging in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial
Capricorn Clark, a former assistant to music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, said Combs was on a mission of revenge in December 2011 after learning rapper Kid Cudi was also dating his girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie. Combs, armed with a gun, commanded Clark to go with him to Cudi's Hollywood Hills estate, Clark testified this week during Combs' sex trafficking trial. ''Get dressed,'' Combs allegedly told Clark after beating on the door of her home. ''We're going to kill this n-----.'' Sign up for the ' Diddy on Trial ' newsletter for key developments and analysis After Combs and a member of his security team broke into Cudi's home, she said, they saw he wasn't there, setting off a violent chain of events that she would tell a Bad Boy Records executive about three months later. 'I told him that Puff kidnapped me with a gun,' Clark said, referring to one of Combs' previous stage names. Clark's stunning testimony in the third week of Combs' trial provided another example of the control he allegedly wielded as head of his New York-based record label, building on the premise set forth by prosecutors that Combs allegedly oversaw a criminal enterprise that relied on employees and other accomplices to carry out illegal acts. Clark's 'testimony is certainly helpful in painting a sinister image of Combs, of his manipulation and his coercion, his control and his violence, which will be beneficial to the prosecution down the line in terms of gaining the jury's sympathies that this guy was up to no good and needs to be put away, or at least held accountable,' said Mark Chutkow, a defense lawyer who handled racketeering cases as a federal prosecutor in Detroit. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. As per the federal racketeering statute, the government must prove at least two predicate offenses, or crimes, committed via a criminal enterprise, Chutkow said. Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, spent four days on the stand in the first week of testimony, saying she 'felt trapped' into engaging in orchestrated sexual encounters, known as 'freak offs,' with male escorts at hotels and homes — sessions that she said Combs funded. Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, testified how his car was firebombed in January 2012, following the December break-in at his home. Los Angeles police also testified that evidence showed the break-in was connected to Combs. The car that police observed leaving the scene of the break-in at Kid Cudi's home was registered to one of Combs' companies, according to testimony from Los Angeles police officer Chris Ignacio. Another accuser, who used the pseudonym 'Mia' on the witness stand, testified that she worked for Combs as a personal assistant for several years and he sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions during that time. Combs was never charged in the firebombing or alleged sexual assaults. His defense team said in opening statements that Combs is a 'very flawed individual' prone to violence and jealousy in his relationships, but that the sexual encounters were consensual. The tangled relationships Combs had with his employees will have to be addressed by the jury during deliberations, Chutkow said, because prosecutors and defense attorneys have raised questions about whether the workers were victims, accomplices or both. For example, Clark, who testified she was paid $55,000 a year, said she set up hotel rooms for the freak-offs at Combs' direction and she sometimes procured illicit drugs on his behalf. Although she testified she was kidnapped twice by Combs or his bodyguards and subjected to multiple days of lie detector tests, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo entered into evidence an email Clark sent to Combs in September 2014, asking for his forgiveness. She did not specify what she wanted to be forgiven for. The email was sent two years after Combs fired her and about two years before she returned to work for him again. 'Mia' testified to sometimes feeling like Combs was a best friend and working partner, but other times treated her 'like I was a worthless piece of crap.' 'You do have these elements of extortion and coercion and fear and intimidation also at play, which you see in gangs and you see in the Mafia and other criminal organizations, and so I think that you don't necessarily have to have co-conspirators and accomplices that are completely voluntary in their commitment to the organization,' Chutkow said. Employees may have also realized the benefits of being in the powerful celebrity's inner circle and so may have been willing to go along, he added. 'That's why you hear the concept of a 'den of thieves,'' Chutkow said. 'They all have their own agendas at play, but they're still working together towards advancing other criminal objectives.' Chutkow said 'that's probably the way the prosecution will kind of categorize this for the jury, and say, 'Hey, we would love to be able to put on witnesses like firemen and nurses for you, but that's not the world that Combs worked in.'' Bad and illegal behavior does not necessarily guarantee a racketeering conviction, said Mark Zauderer, a veteran trial and appellate lawyer in New York. 'There is lots of evidence of violence and possible criminal activity,' he said of Combs' trial. 'But all of that still does not answer the question of whether the jury will find an enterprise and a conspiracy. 'There's no question that a jury can and will consider a so-called victim's own complicity in the matters that were violent and even illegal.' Attorney Rachel Maimin, a former federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, said that while racketeering charges can be complex, prosecutors can sometimes prove the charge with only one witness or even circumstantial evidence. 'I don't know if they've met all of the elements of racketeering yet, but prosecutors are showing that Diddy used employees from his business and organization to carry out criminal activities,' Maimin said. 'They're linking the crimes to his business.'
Indianapolis Star
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
How Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark's injury is affecting fans and ticket prices
INDIANAPOLIS — With hopes to meet Caitlin Clark, Kestas Jociuf and his 8-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, left their seats in section 119 and went to the tunnel next to the Indiana Fever bench. Before her family started their nine-hour drive from Minnesota to Indiana, Elizabeth painted a picture draped with Fever logos and a 'Caitlin, we love you' message. The Jociuf's attempt to meet Clark was successful. Elizabeth's painting now has a new owner. 'Caitlin actually took the picture,' Jociuf said. 'Elizabeth probably wrote Caitlin Clark at least 14 times on that drawing.' Elizabeth and her father also told Clark to feel better soon, to which she thanked them. The Fever announced Monday that Clark would miss at least two weeks with a left quad strain. Since Clark's injury, the Fever played the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun, losing both matchups. Indiana will be without their star guard for at least the next two games, when they host the Mystics on Tuesday and travel to the Chicago Sky on June 7. Jociuf and his wife, Sulema, had taken their daughter and 10-year-old son to see Clark when she visited the Minnesota Lynx last season. Elizabeth and her brother fell in love with Clark, so Sulema and Jociuf bought seats closer to the court for the family's first visit to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. While Sulema admitted she was worried for Clark after hearing of her injury, she said her kids were 'upset' when they learned Clark wasn't playing. 'The visit was worth it even though she's not playing because we wanted to experience Gainbridge and it's been great. They have a lot of cool things for the kids. Also, there are other good people on the team," Sulema said. 'I told them we can get more tickets later in the season (to watch Caitlin).' The family of four spent $900 on their tickets. On game day, the price for the same tickets in section 117 was $174.70. The price difference reflects the impact of Clark's injury on tickets. IndyStar collected data from Ticketmaster and found that selected ticket prices for Clark's future matchups against the Sun, Mystics and Sky, in which she is expected to play, increased by as much as 366%. Note: These are resale prices and may change daily. These numbers were logged up to two hours before the Fever and Sun tipped off Friday. The most expensive ticket in section 120 for Friday's contest against the Sun cost $86.25. When Indiana hosts the Sun on June 17, a ticket in the same section will cost $140.30, a 62.7% increase. The price difference for a seat nearer to the court when the Mystics return to town Aug. 15 is more consumer-friendly. A seat in section 116 on Tuesday will cost $391.95. The price will increase 11% when Washington makes its final regular-season visit to Indiana. Sky and Fever games are always a hot ticket, with Clark and Sky forward Angel Reese headlining the matchup. If a fan desires to sit in section 225 at the United Center and watch Indiana and Chicago square off in their WNBA Commissioner's Cup matchup, the cheapest ticket will cost $57.50. When the two teams reconvene in Chicago on July 27, the cheapest seat in section 225 will cost $267.95. More: What happened to Caitlin Clark? Here's what we know about her injury and when she'll play again Although Clark's availability may alter ticket prices, the impact of her presence remains the same. 'My 8- and 5-year-old daughters were sad not to see her play, but they were still glad to see her in the building,' said Chris Gerrity, a Fever fan who bought tickets for his family before Clark's injury was announced. 'We are still excited to support the city, the rest of the players and the WNBA.'
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scots brute caged after 14 year long campaign of sexual abuse against two women
John Clark,. 30, was sentenced to 10 years at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, May 29 after he was convicted of offences against two women, including rape, abduction and assault at the High Court in Livingston on April 30. A Scots brute has been caged after a campaign of serious sexual and violent offences against two women spanning 14 years. John Clark,. 30, was sentenced to 10 years at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, May 29 after he was convicted of offences against two women, including rape, abduction and assault at the High Court in Livingston on April 30. Clark was also handed a lifetime non-harassment order for these offences which were carried out over a period of 14 years, Edinburgh Live reports. The abuse spanned between 2008 and 2022 in th e West Lothian area. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Detective Constable Calum Skene said: "Clark's abhorrent actions took place over a prolonged period and caused significant harm. He will now have to face the consequences of his behaviour. 'I would like to acknowledge the women involved for their support throughout the investigation and court proceedings. We hope this outcome offers them some reassurance and allows them to begin to move forward. "Police Scotland is committed to supporting victims of sexual crime and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice, regardless of when the offences took place."
Los Angeles Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
St. John Bosco wins Division 1 baseball championship on Miles Clark's walk-off single
To say that St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita engaged in a championship baseball game on Friday night that will be remembered for a lifetime would be an understatement. 'This game was special, something I'll remember for the rest of my life. You really had to fight for it,' said St. John Bosco left fielder Noah Everly. It was a Southern Section Division 1 final filled with drama. Teenagers came through with big play after big play until finally in the bottom of the ninth inning, with the bases loaded, Miles Clark hit a walk-off single up the middle to give St. John Bosco a 3-2 victory and its first baseball championship before a sold-out crowd of 3,010 at Cal State Fullerton. 'It hurts a lot,' Santa Margarita coach Chris Malec said. 'It was a great effort by both sides. There were so many amazing moments.' Let's start with Santa Margarita pitcher Brennan Bauer, who threw five scoreless innings of relief and somehow escaped twice with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game going. First he had a 3-and-1 count to Everly and got a pop fly with one out. Then he had a 3-2 count with Moises Razo and got a fly out to the warning track. 'That's all Brennan,' Malec said. In 22 1/3 playoff innings, Brenann won four games and gave up one earned run. Then there was Everly coming through with a stunning catch on the run in left field in the top of the ninth inning to prevent a Santa Margarita extra base hit with a runner on first. 'That was an extraordinary catch,' Malec said. Said Clark: 'Oh my goodness, Noah came through.' So did Clark against relief pitcher Ethan Russell in the bottom of the ninth. Bauer had run out of innings, having reached his 10-inning max after throwing five innings against Crespi in the semifinals. Russell walked Razo on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Clark. 'We were locked in the whole game,' Clark said. 'We didn't lose our mental focus. I kept telling my guys we have to stay focused.' Razo had a two-run double in the first inning to give the Braves an early lead. Santa Margarita took advantage of an error and closed it to 2-1 in the second on Brody Schumaker's second hit. The Eagles tied tied it at 2-2 in the fifth with a squeeze bunt by Blake Ankrum, the third sacrifice of the game. After Gavin Cervantes started on the mound and freshman Brayden Krakowski pitched into the sixth inning, St. John Bosco turned to its closer, Jack Champlin, who was magnificent. In four scoreless innings, he allowed one hit with four strikeouts. At one point, a Santa Margarita batter appeared to challenge Champlin after the count went to 3-0. Champlin proceeded to strike him out, unleashing a fist pump. St. John Bosco ended up being the most consistent team in the Southland for the 2025 season. The Braves went 27-4 and became the first Trinity League champion to win a Division 1 title. All the other Trinity League teams that have won Division 1 never won the league title. And beating top-seeded Corona 2-0 on Tuesday was quite an accomplishment itself.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hill Air Force Base's Mazer Chapel reopens after 2 years of renovations
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah () — Mazer Chapel, one of Hill Air Force Base's oldest buildings, reopened today for event use. Built in 1942, the chapel, now located at the Hill Aerospace Museum, has experienced decades of heavy use, which led to an expansive renovation project over the past two years. Renovations included a new roof, siding, windows, and carpet, along with pew repairs, freshly painted walls, refinished wood, as well as modernized restrooms, sound systems, and HVAC. 'We are thrilled about this renovation project,' Museum Director Aaron Clark said in a press release. 'Renovating and preserving a World War II-era Army Air Forces chapel ensures the vital stories of local and national history are not forgotten over time.' This is not the first time the chapel has undergone renovations. In 1945, a major fire forced renovation, and in 1948, it was remodeled. A new Base chapel replaced it in 1964, but it remained in use as an education building and extra office space, until it was declared excess in 1984, which led to it being scheduled for demolition. PREVIOUSLY: Detonation season is starting at Hill Air Force Base – and you might hear a boom or two However, rather than allowing the building to be demolished, the Hill Air Force Base Cultural Resource Program worked with the Aerospace Foundation of Utah to help relocate the chapel to the museum grounds and begin restoration work. It became a permanent fixture of the museum's Memorial Park upon its rededication in 1989. 'Visiting the Mazer Chapel offers guests a unique, immersive way to connect with history,' Clark added. 'As a space where service members and installation personnel once gathered during the world's most destructive conflict to rejoice in faith and hope for victory, or mourn the war's impact, it fosters reflection on the courage, unity, and sacrifice of those who came before us. It will bridge the gap between the past and the present.' The chapel will be fully open to the public in two weeks. Visit the to book an event. Cedar City man arrested for allegedly sending sexual photos to officer posing as 12-year-old Charges filed against Utah man who allegedly messaged missing 15-year-old before her disappearance Weber County School District considering tax increase Hill Air Force Base's Mazer Chapel reopens after 2 years of renovations Man Labs Skincare tops our Father's Day must-have list Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
