Latest news with #EddyGarcia
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Sean 'Diddy' Combs paid hotel security officer to hand over video, jury hears
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 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. "He was concerned that this video would get out and that it would ruin his career," said Garcia, who was granted immunity from prosecution to testify. 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 contraband-fuelled performances known as Freak Offs. The trial is in its fourth week. 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. 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 (Dh183,642). 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. Garcia said Combs ran cash from the bag through the counter, which displayed $100,000, returned the money to the bag, and handed the bag to him. Combs' lawyers have acknowledged he was at times abusive in domestic relationships, but argue that women who took part in Freak Offs did so consensually. Prosecutors say bribery is among the racketeering acts that Combs or his employees undertook in order to facilitate Freak Offs and prevent word of his abuse from getting out. Combs could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Prosecutors have said they may finish presenting their case next week, allowing the defense to put on its case.
News24
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Hush money bombshell: Hotel worker testifies Diddy paid to bury Cassie assault video
Sean 'Diddy' Combs allegedly paid $100 000 for the 2016 video of him assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hallway. According to security worker Eddy Garcia, who testified during the disgraced hip-hop mogul's trial, Combs thought this was the only copy of the video. Combs has been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution and faces life in prison if convicted. A hotel security worker said Sean 'Diddy' Combs paid $100 000 for the 2016 video of him assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hallway, according to The Washington Post. The publication reported that the video is being used by prosecutors to support their case that 'Ventura was forced by Combs to have sex with male escorts as part of 'freak-offs' held at various hotels'. However, the defence said that Ventura's participation was consensual but acknowledged Combs' domestic abuse. According to security worker Eddy Garcia, who testified during the disgraced hip-hop mogul's trial, Combs thought this was the only copy of the video. READ | 'You post the great times': Witness asked to defend Instagram posts in Sean Combs trial Combs had contacted Garcia shortly after the assault and told him he'd 'take care' of him, according to Reuters. 'He was concerned that this video would get out and that it would ruin his career,' Garcia said. Garcia told his boss about Combs' message, and his boss said he would give him the video for $50 000. When they gave him the footage on a flash drive, Combs returned with a bag containing $100 000. Combs has been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution and faces life in prison if convicted. On Tuesday, a woman was escorted out of Combs' trial after entering the courtroom and yelling, 'Diddy, these motherfuckers laughing at you!' according to Variety Australia. As she was being escorted out, she told court marshals, 'Pull your gun out, ninja, I dare you.' Outside the courtroom, the woman cursed at journalists who were hoping to get a quote after the incident.
CNN
7 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Ex-Hotel Guard: Cassie Said She Wanted Assault Video To 'Go Away' - Laura Coates Live - Podcast on CNN Audio
Ex-Hotel Guard: Cassie Said She Wanted Assault Video To 'Go Away' Laura Coates Live 46 mins Eddy Garcia, a former security officer at the InterContinental Hotel, gave evidence about his involvement in a 2016 video of Combs that shows him physically assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Garcia said he accepted $100,000 from Combs in exchange for video footage. Derek Ferguson, the former chief financial officer for Combs' record label, testified this afternoon about how he helped Combs manage his finances.
ABC News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Ex-hotel security guard says Sean 'Diddy' Combs paid him $US100,000 for video of LA hotel assault
Warning: This story contains details of sexual abuse and domestic violence. A former hotel security guard has testified that Sean "Diddy" Combs gave him a brown paper bag stuffed with $US100,000 ($154,000) in cash, for what he hoped was the only copy of surveillance footage of him viciously attacking his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra Ventura. The video shows Ms Ventura, also known by her stage name Cassie, at an LA hotel in 2016. Eddy Garcia, 33, said the hip-hop mogul repeatedly made the comment that his career and image would be destroyed if the video of the assault became public, before giving him the bag of money. Prosecutors at Mr Combs's sex trafficking trial in Manhattan have made the footage a centrepiece of their federal case against him. It shows Mr Combs kicking, beating and dragging Ms Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles. They contend it supports the claims of three women, including Ms Ventura, who allege Mr Combs sexually and physically abused them over two decades. Prosecutors say Mr Combs's persistent efforts to hush up the episode fit with allegations he used threats, fortune and fame to get what he wanted. Mr Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. After the attack, Mr Garcia said he spoke several times to Mr Combs's chief-of-staff Kristina Khorram, telling her he couldn't show her the recording but "off the record, it's bad." He said during one phone call she put a "very nervous"-sounding Mr Combs on the phone, who "was just saying he had a little too much to drink" and that, as Mr Garcia surely knows, "with women, one thing leads to another and if this got out it would ruin him." "He was talking really fast, a lot of stuttering," Mr Garcia said. Mr Garcia said he became nervous and scared when Ms Khorram called him on his cell phone, the number for which he had not provided, and she put Mr Combs on. "He stated that I sounded like a good guy," Mr Garcia testified, adding that Mr Combs again said "something like this could ruin him." When he told Mr Combs he didn't have access to the server to obtain the video footage, Mr Combs said he believed Mr Garcia could make it happen and that "he would take care of me," which Mr Garcia said he took "to mean financially." Mr Garcia said he checked with his boss and was told he would sell it to Mr Combs for $US50,000. When he told Mr Combs, he said the music producer "sounded excited." "He referred to me as 'Eddy my angel,'" Mr Garcia said, adding that Mr Combs told him: "I knew you could help. I knew you could do it." Within two days of the attack on Ms Ventura, Mr Garcia gave the accused a storage device containing the footage in exchange for $US100,000 in cash which Mr Combs fed through a money counter before putting in a brown paper bag. Mr Garcia signed a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement, shown in court, that required he pay $US1 million if he breached the deal. At the time he said he was making $US10.50 an hour working hotel security. The former security guard said he signed a declaration swearing that there was no other copy of the video. He said he signed the papers in an office building with Mr Combs's bodyguard and Ms Khorram present. Mr Garcia said he didn't fully read the documents, explaining that he was nervous and "the goal was to get out of there as soon as possible." After signing, he said, Mr Combs asked him what he planned to do with the money and advised him not to make big purchases. Mr Garcia said he took that to mean he shouldn't do anything that would draw attention. Mr Garcia said he gave $US50,000 to his boss and $US20,000 to another security officer. He pocketed $US30,000 and used some of it to buy a used car, he said. He said he used cash and to avoid a further paper trail, never put the money in the bank. A few weeks later, Mr Garcia said Mr Combs called him and asked if anyone had inquired about the video. Mr Garcia said no, recounting Mr Combs's ebullient greeting: "Happy Easter. Eddy, my angel. God is good. God put you in my way for a reason." Mr Garcia said he asked the accused if he might have future work for him, and Mr Combs sounded receptive. But Mr Combs never responded to his later inquiries, the witness said. Another hotel guard has testified he recorded the footage on his phone so he could show it to his wife. Mr Combs could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Prosecutors have said they may finish presenting their case next week, allowing the defence to put on its case. AP
CBS News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Hotel security officer testifies Sean "Diddy" Combs paid $100,000 for video showing assault of Cassie Ventura
Jurors in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial heard from a man Tuesday who worked at the Los Angeles hotel where Combs was seen on video attacking his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Eddy Garcia testified Combs paid him $100,000 for that video because he feared if it got out, he'd be ruined. Garcia testified under an immunity order. He worked in private security at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in March, 2016. "Off the record, it's bad" Garcia told the jury Combs' personal assistant Kristina Khorram reached out to try and see security video of the incident. Garcia testified he couldn't show her, but said "off the record, it's bad." Garcia testified he spoke with Combs over the phone and Combs sounded "very nervous" and "was talking very fast." Garcia said he apologized, but also told Combs he couldn't show him. Eventually, during another phone call with Combs, Garcia testified that Combs explained something like this would ruin him, and that he would take care of Garcia in exchange for his help. Garcia told the jury he reached out to his boss, who said he would sell it for $50,000. When he told Combs, Garcia said Combs referred to him as "Eddy my Angel." Garcia said he dropped off a USB drive, signed a non-disclosure agreement, and a document saying there were no other copies. He described Combs as "excited. Just looked happy." $100,000 payment for the video, Garcia testifies When Garcia expressed concerns about the potential for a police report to be filed, Combs told him not to worry about it, and FaceTimed Ventura who told Garcia she had a movie coming out and that she wanted this to go away. Combs ended up doubling the money to $100,000, Garcia told the jury. Garcia said $50,000 went to his boss, another security officer got $20,000, and he kept $30,000. Garcia testified that Combs reached out a few weeks later saying "Happy Easter, Eddy my Angel, God is Good. God put you in my life for a reason." Garcia said Combs then asked if anyone has inquired about the video, or the incident. Garcia said the answer was no, and Combs told him to reach out if he ever needed anything. Garcia said he reached out a year or two later to Combs via Instagram to inquire about any employment opportunities in security, but he never heard back. The former chief financial officer of Bad Boy Entertainment also took the stand Tuesday, describing how Combs' personal bank accounts and finances at Combs' companies worked. Asked by the defense if he had ever seen Combs commit crimes, he answered no. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all five counts he's facing.
