The stunning sex-trafficking case against Sean “Diddy” Combs could be even stronger than the one against Nxivm sex cult leader Keith Raniere, who’s now serving more than a century behind bars, legal experts told The Post.
That’s because federal prosecutors have a “treasure trove” of evidence against the disgraced rap mogul — namely, videos of the alleged “freak offs” showing his drugged-out victims having sex with male prostitutes as part of days-long sessions, the experts said.
“I think [the Combs case] would actually make a stronger case particularly because [prosecutors] talk about a lot of videos,” said Anthony Capozzolo, a former federal prosecutor.
Video evidence of the alleged “freak offs” — recordings that they say were used as collateral against Combs’ victims — is frequently mentioned in federal court papers made public this week against Combs.
“The irony is [the recordings are] now a treasure trove of evidence that is going to be used against him,” said Los Angeles-based defense attorney Neama Rahmani.
Rahmani — also a former federal prosecutor — said he believes “there is a lot of video evidence in this case and it’s great because witnesses can lie but a video never lies.”
“The victim testimony is corroborated by the video and it’s just so powerful,” Rahmani added.
Combs is represented by Marc Agnifilo, the same attorney who also represented Raniere in his case accusing him of luring young women to his upstate New York cult Nxivm to turn into sex slaves.
Capozzolo, who helped former “Dynasty” actress Catherine Oxenberg expose the twisted group in her effort to free her daughter, India Oxenberg, from Raniere’s grasp, knows Agnifilo could face an uphill battle in defending Combs.
“As a defense attorney, you can have the best laid plans and then they show one or two videos and everything goes out the window,” Capozzolo said. “So it’s a very difficult case for [Agnifilo].”
Capozzolo also said it could be game over for Combs if jurors are shown the sickening 2016 video that surfaced earlier this year showing Combs beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at a hotel.
Here's what we know about the allegations against Sean "Diddy" Combs
- Combs was arrested at a New York hotel by Homeland Security agents on September 16.
- Prosecutors allege Combs participated in sex trafficking and “freak off” parties.
- Combs was denied bail and is on suicide watch as he awaits his sex trafficking trial in jail.
- Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Homeland Security in March amid a possible ongoing sex-trafficking investigation.
- A video of Combs viciously assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway was made public in May.
- In November 2023, the rapper was accused of drugging, filming and sexually assaulting a woman on a date in 1991.
That would make it “very hard for them not to think what other witnesses are saying is true,” he said.
And if videos of the “freak offs” are as disturbing as the Ventura video, “jurors are going to absolutely hate [Combs].”
Combs, 54, pleaded not guilty to racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation for the purposes of prostitution Tuesday following his Monday arrest. He faces up to life imprisonment if convicted on the top charge.
The feds claim, in additional to the sex crimes, Combs was violent to women and others and he also used the threat of violence to get his way.
Combs has been ordered held behind bars until trial, with a judge agreeing with prosecutors that he might otherwise harm more women, try to intimidate witnesses from coming forward or flee.
Capozzolo said Manhattan prosecutors were quick to seek to detain Combs so further alleged victims and witnesses could feel free to speak out against him without fear of violence or coercion.
The feds similarly successfully petitioned for Raniere to be held in jail before trial. The cult leader is now serving 120 years imprisonment following his 2019 conviction in Brooklyn federal court.
While no one else has been charged yet in the Combs case, Capozzolo said alleged accomplices could be willing to flip on him out of fear they could be jailed or face a hefty prison sentence.
“They see Combs is already in jail. If they get arrested they feel like they will be thrown in jail,” Capozzolo said. “So they decide to cooperate and earn themselves significantly reduced sentence.”
Rahmani said with the racketeering conspiracy charge Combs faces, people whose roles were as minor as setting up cameras and lighting or buying lube for the “freak offs” could also be charged.
“So you can wrap up a lot of people and you’ll have a lot of leverage over them,” Rahmani said. “I’m not saying they are going to charge everyone but they can easily pressure all of these people to flip and cooperate against Diddy.”
Rahmani said Combs’ case also reminds him of the sex-trafficking case against dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein since other celebrities could be implicated in the rapper’s case.
“There is a whole Jeffrey Epstein-type component because of the rich and famous people involved,” Rahmani said. “This is one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood.”
https://nypost.com/2024/09/20/us-news/diddy-faces-tough-battle-against-treasure-trove-of-evidence/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.