Sean “Diddy” Combs demanded $20,000 from the mother of Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and threatened to release explicit videos of the singer after learning she was dating rapper Kid Cudi, The AP reports, citing testimony givenin a Manhattan federal court during Combs’ ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering trial.
Regina Ventura, testifying for the prosecution, said her daughter emailed her in late 2011 to say Combs had made threats involving two sex tapes and warned he might harm both Cassie and her new partner.
Soon after, she testified, she received a direct demand from Combs for $20,000. “He was angry that he had spent money on her and she went with another person,” she said.
In fear for her daughter’s safety, Ventura said she took out a home equity loan to pay Combs. However, the money was returned just days later, and Cassie resumed her relationship with him.
Ventura, who lives in New London, Connecticut, was on the stand for less than 30 minutes. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo declined to cross-examine her. During her testimony, jurors were shown photos of bruises on Cassie’s body, which Ventura said were taken during Christmas 2011, when Cassie came home.
Before Ventura took the stand, Agnifilo argued the judge should block her testimony, claiming it was “purely prejudicial.” Judge Arun Subramanian allowed it, calling the threats and money demand a case of “potential extortion.”
Rapper Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, is expected to testify later this week.
In addition to Ventura’s testimony, jurors were also shown parts of two AR-15 rifles found during a 2024 raid on Combs’ Miami mansion on Star Island. Homeland Security agent Gerard Gannon described the March 2024 operation, which included breaching the estate’s gates with an armored vehicle and deploying boats around the property.
Authorities discovered not only firearms but also a collection of high heels, lingerie, sex toys, baby oil, lubricant, and condoms—items prosecutors claim were used during what they described as Combs’ “freak-off” sex marathons.
Now in its second week, the trial is expected to last two months. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
