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Tony Bruski
Audio this is continuing coverage of United States versus Sean Diddy combs from the Hidden Killers podcast and True Crime today. We've all heard and seen celebrities thinking that they are untouchable. But the federal trial of Sean Diddy Combs might be one of the most intense reality checks Hollywood scene in decades. At the center is an explosive blend of allegations. Sex trafficking, drugs, violence. All rolled neatly into those complicated little RICO charges that used to be reserved for mob bosses, not Grammy winning artists. Now here's a kicker. Combs defense team hasn't called a single witness, not even Diddy himself, to counter the prosecution's allegations. Not trying, folks. Nothing, Not a zip. Which leads everybody scratching their heads is the supreme confidence that they have here or the courtroom equivalent to throwing up your hands and hoping for the best? I mean, what is going on here? To break down these wild courtroom maneuvers, I've got Eric Faddis with me, a veteran defense attorney who's been seen just about every trick in the legal playbook, both prosecuting and defending cases. They're gonna unpack how exactly? Prosecutors are attempting to turn Diddy's empire, bad boy entertainment, flashy parties, luxury hotels and all, into a neatly packaged criminal enterprise under RICO laws. We're gonna dive into the gutsy decision to drop kidnapping and arson charges last minute. A move that could either lesser focus their argument from the prosecution or make jurors wonder if the whole case was oversold from the start. We're also going to talk about why federal courts still refuse to allow video coverage of trials like these, leaving us piecing together secondhand accounts as if we're back in the days of newspaper only coverage. Get comfortable. So we're about to dig into this. Eric's about to shine a big, bright legal flashlight into all the shady corners of this courtroom drama. Let's talk about the RICO charges. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act is being used to argue that Diddy ran a criminal enterprise involving sex trafficking, drugs and violence. And he's saying, no, that wasn't part of my company. That was just the weekends. Basically. RICO allows prosecutors to bundle multiple acts under one broad umbrella. That's why we've been seeing it used outside of just like Mafioso type cases. We saw it in the R. Kelly case, we're seeing it here. But yeah, it is complex and controversial when applied outside of organized crime. So exactly, are prosecutors trying to meld this and form this in a way that a jury is going to understand it? So they get what, a RICO charges and see how that applies to Diddy. How do you work that through your mind to explain it?
Eric Faddis
So kind of the, the intellectual flowchart if you will, for it is for a RICO charge there's got to be a criminal enterprise and there have to be at least two predicate offenses that happen within 10 years that are connected to that criminal enterpr. Like running a stop sign isn't enough. They got to be serious crimes. And so I think the prosecution is going to argue that the Bat Boy Entertainment helped facilitate some of this sex trafficking that they contend was non consensual, that they set up hotels, that they engaged in payments at times, sometimes they're fueling these hotel parties with drugs. And so what the prosecution is going to say is that the sex trafficking crimes themselves can be the predicate offenses for rico so long as they can connect it to Bad Boy. They've been able to have some successes in drawing those connections. There were some receipts and texts entered into evidence. On the other hand, there are some Bad Boy affiliates who say, hey, we didn't know about any criminal activity. We certainly didn't agree to facilitate it. And so that one, there's some conflicting evidence there.
Tony Bruski
I mean ultimately the man with the checkbook is Diddy. So he's going to do what he wants and pull the funds from wherever. Is it really come down to where the fundamentals funding for these parties came from or the people or persons involved who planned it. Cuz if you're operating off of Diddy's personal card on everything and all this is that rico, even if you have employees helping to facilitate these things. But all the funding is coming out of, out of Diddy's personal account, not the Bad Boy Entertainment account. I guess the other question would be who are these people employees of? Would they be employees of Bad Boy Entertainment? Cause I don't know the answer to that. I don't know how his assistants were set up or anybody set up. Was that Bad Boy or was that Sean Combs Enterprises or whatever it was called? I suppose it doesn't matter if it's Bad Boy or not. If it's under a business structure of any type, really, that would be constituting a RICO charge. Whether it's just you're employed to be making the life of Diddy, the life of Diddy as assistants and stuff, that's still a corporate structure. It's not Diddy personally.
Eric Faddis
Totally. So to the first question, the funding is critical. I mean certainly the jury is going to want to see, hey, were there business accounts that were used to rent out these hotels, that were used to buy flights for mail escorts, that kind of thing? It's important, but it's not necessary under rico, you can have just the affiliates of the alleged criminal enterprise arranging things. And really the central piece is that did they have knowledge that there was some criminal activity going on, and did they coordinate all together to advance that criminal activity and connection with the criminal enterprise? Also the criminal enterprise, that's like. It's a very low standard to meet that. It's kind of just a loose confederation of people who happen to be working in coordination. It doesn't even have to be a business here. It is a business. And so it's a much lower standard than people think to prove that some criminal enterprise exists. And I think that, you know, the government went far in trying to establish that in having text messages from other bodyguards and from executives at Bad Boy Entertainment that all according to the government, sort of coalesce in some of these criminal acts.
Tony Bruski
I think a lot of times when we hear the word sex trafficking or a layperson hears that, they're thinking, you know, a bunch of immigrants in the back of a truck or something that have been picked up. And this is. They're just. That's not how it typically. I mean, is that part of it? Sometimes, sure, but that's not always how it has to be. I mean, the fact that. You mean sex work is illegal in most states, if you're getting. If you're purchasing a sex worker to come in from New Jersey and the party's in New York, we're crossing state lines, just a theoretical one out there. And the purpose of that person coming to that party is to do sex work with Diddy, his guests, whatever. Is that sex trafficking? Just like that. Even though that person is knowingly coming, they're not being forced, it's not coercion they're getting paid. Is it sex trafficking if they're willingly coming for that purpose to another state?
Eric Faddis
It's a really important point because I agree with you. There is kind of a misnomer in terms of sex trafficking. And what that means it doesn't need to include sort of, you know, forced migration of a bunch of people to go and do something. The church in this case is sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which requires that someone engaged in a commercial sex act by force, fraud or coercion. And so all that really depends on is having some commercial sex worker, which we have ample evidence of the punisher, for one. And so then the remaining question is, was it by force, fraud, or coercion? That's the part that the jury, I think, is going to wrestle with. But sex Trafficking is also a lower standard than perhaps our societal understanding might suggest.
Tony Bruski
And that's the interesting part, I guess, of this case. It's not even so much about the state lines. It's about once they're there and they're there for that job. Was there force, fraud or coercion involved in them performing the job, meaning they felt that they were being forced or coerced into having sex with people? That's a, I think, a gray line to a lot of jurors, especially if it is a sex worker. Like, well, what were you expecting to have happen here when Diddy hired you to be a sex worker? But obviously rape is something that you would not really expect to be part of it. But we have to. Is there even evidence of that with some of the sex workers? It's gonna be a difficult one, I think, to convince a jury on. Quite honestly, where do you think it stands? Because from what I've understood, from what I've taken out of a lot of this, from the testimony, other than the direct things with Cassie and some assistance and some people that are really direct, directly close, we're not hearing a lot from sex workers that, you know, they're like, held captive in Diddy's land. It seems they kind of came and went, at least most of them. Others, other ones who didn't get involved in a closer relationship didn't seem to have those sort of stories.
Eric Faddis
Right. As far as I can tell, none of these sex workers are alleging that they were forced to do something criminally that they didn't want to do. I think the sex trafficking, by force, fraud, coercion charges are based on Cassie and based on Jane. And so, you know, if there was evidence, where did he said, hey, I need you to do this freak off or else I'm going to beat the hell out of you? That's. That's by force. That's sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
Tony Bruski
Sure.
Eric Faddis
However, that's not what we have. There was sort of this specter of threats that. This implication and this subjective understanding from Cassie and Jane that they didn't feel like they had a choice. But that's not necessarily enough that the government's got to prove that Diddy knew Cassie and Jane felt they didn't have a choice and he forced them to do this anyway through his machinations, whatever they may be. And so that's kind of an added level of proving that Diddy knew that they didn't have a. Felt they didn't have a choice and went forward anyway. In a course of fashion, that's yet another layer that's going to be difficult to prove.
Tony Bruski
That's what I was expecting to see if he was going to call any witnesses. I was expecting to see some people to come up and go, no, this wasn't coercion. No, this wasn't this. No, this wasn't that. Obviously no witnesses are called. Do you think there's nobody out there that would testify to that or is it just, let's not keep focusing on Diddy having sex with sex workers. Let's just. It's already been brought out. We know that's happened. We don't think they proved it beyond a reasonable doubt that this was some sort of coercion. I don't know. Are you surprised that we didn't hear anybody backing up Diddy in any way, shape or form?
Eric Faddis
I am surprised. I thought they would call at least like two witnesses or so who would come in and say, you know, hey, I'm from Bad Boy. I was at some, at one of these parties and nothing seemed non consensual to me. No one was saying no. They weren't saying stop. They weren't, you know, their body language wasn't sort of resistant or something like that. It seemed perfectly consensual. I think that would go a long way. And then further, another witness they could have called is someone who said, hey, yeah, I work for Bad Boy. And I was, I had no knowledge of any crimes going on. I was just doing my, my job, you know, day to day work. I would expect those types of witnesses to be called. They weren't called. Is it because they don't exist? That's a question that could be lingering in the jury's mind.
Tony Bruski
I mean, or is it just, let's leave it out by omission and then make the jury wonder, like, maybe nobody else does exist. But there are people who do exist who had quite a case against him. Cassie Ventura being one of them. The jury saw that video of him beating the crap out of her at the Intercontinental Hotel, stomping on her head, throwing a vase at her, dragging her through the pretty damaging stuff. And then they heard several days of her testimony that went far more dark and into brutal territory. That makes that video look pretty tame, quite honestly. We have that as being a big part of this. How much do you think just that element of this case is gonna weigh on the jury's decision over all three charges? Just because of how damning that is and them maybe just being a little trigger happy going, he did that he can go down for the other things too. Just kind of a, you know, you're a horrific human being, let's just get you away.
Eric Faddis
The shock factor cannot be understated. That video is terribly evocative in the worst way for Diddy. And on top of that, it sort of communicates to any common person, hey, if he's capable of doing that, he's at least capable of these other accusations, you know, that being said, one question I think that the defense should ask in closing argument rhetorically to the jury is, you know, was Cassie forced or, excuse me, did that physical violence force Cassie to do these freak offs? You know, was there some direct imminent threat or was it just this was a complicated and abusive and horrible relationship and on top of that, she chose to do these freak offs? You know, I think that subtle distinction is important because that physical force has to have a contributing factor to the sex trafficking by coercion. They gotta make that link.
Tony Bruski
There you have it. Eric Faddish laying out exactly why this case against Sean Diddy Combs isn't just about proving a bunch of nasty allegations. It's about convincing a jury that these actions form a coordinated criminal enterprise worthy of RICO charges. It's a tall order. And as Eric explained, proving coercion and criminal intent is way trickier than simply waving around shocking videos or disturbing texts. Sure, seeing a horrifying clip of Diddy's violence against Cassie Ventura might emotionally sway a jury. But the question still hangs heavy. Does this brutally explicit and explicitly tie into a structured, coordinated criminal organization? Eric also highlighted how prosecutors last minute drop of kidnapping and arson charges could either tighten their argument or blow a hole right through its credibility, leaving jurors wondering if they were sold more than the prosecutors could deliver. Let's not overlook the jury's monumental task. Here they are wrestling with some of the most confusing legal instructions ever drafted. If seasoned attorneys struggle to make sense of RICO laws, imagine what 12 ordinary folks are going through back in that jury room. Beyond all the case specifics, Eric made an essential point about transparency. Why exactly are federal trials still being closed doors in terms of video and audio coverage? Isn't about time the federal court system caught up with modern expectations of openness and accountability. Maybe seeing these cases unfold in real time would help the public better grasp the complexities involved, cutting through rumor and speculation. Tell me what your thoughts are on this case, the arguments that have been made and where things are at. Go ahead and leave that in the comment section on YouTube. And if you're not on our YouTube channel yet. Just search Hidden Killers with Tony Bruski to find us on YouTube and join in those comments. You can even start commenting early if you become a premium subscriber to our channel on YouTube. Get in on that and then yeah, you get videos as we make them, days, sometimes weeks in advance of their release to the public. So if you really want to get in early and let your opinion be known, check that out. It's another way to subscribe to the program on YouTube. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, you subscribe to our Premium plus channel there on Apple to get access to it all on the audio side of things. And do press subscribe either way wherever you're listening to us so you don't miss any of our coverage. We put out tons of it for you for free every single day of the week. Wanna hear your thoughts? Tell me in those comments sections. Until next time. For all of us here at the Hidden Killers Podcast in True Crime Today, I'm Tony Brewski. We will talk again real soon. Want true crime coverage all day, every day. Press subscribe now to the Hidden Killers Podcast and True Crime Today and get the latest cases delivered right to your feed.
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Podcast Summary: "Was Sean 'Diddy' Combs a Criminal Mastermind or Just Reckless & Rich"
Podcast Information:
In this compelling episode titled "Was Sean 'Diddy' Combs a Criminal Mastermind or Just Reckless & Rich," host Tony Bruski delves deep into the controversial legal battles surrounding Sean 'P Diddy' Combs. The episode sets the stage by highlighting the unprecedented nature of Diddy's federal trial, which brings Hollywood glamour face-to-face with serious criminal allegations.
Notable Quote:
"We've all heard and seen celebrities thinking that they are untouchable. But the federal trial of Sean Diddy Combs might be one of the most intense reality checks Hollywood scene in decades." ([02:10])
Tony Bruski outlines the core allegations against Diddy, which encompass a severe blend of sex trafficking, drug-related offenses, and acts of violence. Central to the prosecution's case are the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) charges, traditionally associated with organized crime figures, now being applied to a high-profile figure in the music industry.
Notable Quote:
"At the center is an explosive blend of allegations. Sex trafficking, drugs, violence. All rolled neatly into those complicated little RICO charges that used to be reserved for mob bosses, not Grammy-winning artists." ([02:10])
Tony introduces Eric Faddis, a seasoned defense attorney, to dissect the use of RICO laws in Diddy's case. They explore how RICO, which requires establishing a criminal enterprise with at least two predicate offenses within ten years, is being employed to link Diddy's business empire to illicit activities.
Notable Quotes:
Tony Bruski: "To break down these wild courtroom maneuvers, I've got Eric Faddis with me, a veteran defense attorney..." ([02:10])
Eric Faddis: "So kind of the, the intellectual flowchart if you will, for it is for a RICO charge there's got to be a criminal enterprise and there have to be at least two predicate offenses that happen within 10 years that are connected to that criminal enterprise..." ([05:14])
The conversation shifts to the specific allegations of sex trafficking against Diddy. Tony and Eric discuss the nuances of these charges, clarifying that sex trafficking under RICO doesn't necessarily involve coercion or force but rather the facilitation of commercial sex acts.
Notable Quotes:
Tony Bruski: "Is that sex trafficking if they're willingly coming for that purpose to another state?" ([08:44])
Eric Faddis: "It's a really important point because I agree with you. There is kind of a misnomer in terms of sex trafficking..." ([09:49])
A critical point of discussion is the prosecution's recent decision to drop kidnapping and arson charges against Diddy. Tony and Eric analyze whether this strategic move is intended to sharpen the remaining argument or if it undermines the case's credibility, potentially leaving jurors skeptical about the prosecution's foundation.
Notable Quotes:
Tony Bruski: "Feature prosecutors last minute drop of kidnapping and arson charges could either tighten their argument or blow a hole right through its credibility..." ([16:11])
The episode delves into the complexities faced by the jury, who must navigate intricate legal instructions related to RICO laws. Tony emphasizes the difficulty in proving coercion and the existence of a coordinated criminal enterprise, highlighting the high burden of proof required to convict Diddy.
Notable Quotes:
Eric Faddis: "I think that, you know, the government went far in trying to establish that in having text messages from other bodyguards and from executives at Bad Boy Entertainment that all according to the government, sort of coalesce in some of these criminal acts." ([07:28])
Tony Bruski: "The jury's monumental task... Imagine what 12 ordinary folks are going through back in that jury room." ([16:11])
Tony raises concerns about the federal court system's reluctance to allow video coverage of high-profile trials like Diddy's. He argues that increased transparency could aid public understanding and reduce speculation, ensuring that the complexities of the case are more accessible to the general populace.
Notable Quotes:
Tony Bruski: "Beyond all the case specifics, Eric made an essential point about transparency. Why exactly are federal trials still being closed doors in terms of video and audio coverage?" ([16:11])
Wrapping up the episode, Tony Bruski summarizes the key points discussed with Eric Faddis. He underscores the gravity of the allegations against Diddy and the formidable challenge the prosecution faces in securing a conviction under RICO laws. The episode leaves listeners pondering whether Sean 'Diddy' Combs will be proven a criminal mastermind or simply a wealthy individual embroiled in legal turmoil.
Notable Quote:
Tony Bruski: "It's about convincing a jury that these actions form a coordinated criminal enterprise worthy of RICO charges. It's a tall order." ([16:11])
"The Downfall Of Diddy" offers a meticulously detailed exploration of one of the music industry's most enigmatic figures' legal battles. Through expert analysis and insightful discussion, Tony Bruski provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the intricate legal maneuvers at play, the societal implications of applying RICO laws beyond traditional organized crime, and the profound impact such a high-profile case has on public perceptions of celebrity and justice.
Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content segments from the provided transcript to focus solely on the substantive discussions relevant to the case against Sean 'Diddy' Combs.