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Marjorie Hernandez
Seriously popular. The following episode explores a number of allegations regarding the artist Diddy. He denies all charges and has pled not guilty to sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The biggest secret in the entertainment industry that really wasn't a secret at all has finally been revealed to the world.
Sam Mangle
At the height of his career, Sean Diddy Combs had it all. It seemed like everything Diddy touched turned to gold. Now the once untouchable hip hop mogul is fighting for his life as he faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking and allegedly running a criminal enterprise.
Marjorie Hernandez
Music mogul and rapper Sean Diddy Combs has faced four different lawsuits in recent weeks alleging sexual assault. Combs can be seen grabbing Ventura and.
Sam Mangle
Throwing her to the ground. Oh, this guy is dangerous. Every woman has now come forward. A legend comes of sexual assault.
Marjorie Hernandez
She was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs.
Sam Mangle
I'm DailyMail.com journalist Marjorie Hernandez, and over the last six months, I've been investigating this incredible story and speaking to the people in the eye of the storm. Welcome to the trial of Diddy. Hey, I'm Marjorie Hernandez, DailyMail.com's West coast news editor, and welcome to episode 24 of the trial of Diddy. The day we released our last episode, it was announced that one of three main attorneys representing Diddy filed a motion to withdraw from the case. Lawyer Anthony Rico cited unspecified, quote, sufficient reasons that meant he could no longer represent Diddy, who is currently in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention center awaiting trial on human trafficking and racketeering charges that he has repeatedly and strenuously denied. Rico has said that, quote, under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs. And while he didn't lay out the specific reasons driving his decision to leave the case, he did say they do exist and are protected by attorney client privilege. At this time. Diddy's other attorneys, Mark Agnifillo and Tenny Garagos, are expected to continue representing him. DailyMail.com has approached Rico for comment. Now, in the meantime, Diddy's attorneys filed on February 26th a memorandum opposing Texas based attorney Tony Busby to represent various clients who have filed cases in the Southern District of New York. They said Busby conducted, quote, egregious misconduct by filing 22 cases in that district. Since they claim Busby is barred from practicing in New York. Diddy's attorneys wrote, quote, in countless social media posts, media appearances, and a press conference, Busby has inappropriately commented on pending litigation in a manner that violates his professional and ethical obligations by, among other things, opining on Mr. Combs guilt on criminal charges that are scheduled to be tried in this district beginning on May 5, 2025. Worse, he has falsely accused Mr. Combs of sexually abusing dozens of children when Mr. Combs has never been charged with such crimes. Diddy's attorneys also said, quote, rather than acknowledging the limitations of his practice authority, Mr. Busby instead chose to make a public statement that deflected, claiming that reports of him being barred from practicing in New York state were, quote, trash and pure bunk. Meanwhile, Busby responded to claims that he can't practice in New York with a post on his social media. So in this post, Busby took a snapshot of a certificate from the Pelt Division of New York Supreme Court that reads that he is actually licensed to practice in the state since January 17, 2019. Busby goes on to say that there have been rumors swirling that he was not licensed in New York. But he adds in a statement, quote, let me be clear. I'm licensed to practice in New York. I'm in good standing with the state bar and have always been. Although I prefer Texas, I'm proud of the legal work we are doing in New York. Don't believe the clickbait or dramatic headlines. We have also reached out to Mr. Busby for comment. Okay. And with that, let's welcome this week's guest, federal prison consultant, Sam Mangle. Hello, Sam. Can you go into. What exactly does a prison consultant do?
Marjorie Hernandez
We work with defendants, their families, attorneys that are going through the federal criminal system. Overwhelmingly, the majority of our clients, probably 98%, are white collar offenders, offenders that commit financial crimes, nonviolent crimes, those that are typically professionals, politicians that run afoul of various federal statutes and find themselves in the clutches of the Department of Justice.
Sam Mangle
Now, how did you get into the consulting business?
Marjorie Hernandez
In 2016? I received a knock on my door. 17 men and women dressed in blue flak jackets with FBI stencil on the back arrested me. I had no idea why. I had been retired for a number of years. In the car ride up, I learned that I was being charged with a wire fraud from a prior company I was involved with. 2018, I went to sentencing. I was assured by my attorney that I was getting one year of home confinement and then some supervised release. The judges looked down at me and said, Mr. Mango, you are no different than any vagrant on the street. You are actually worse. You clearly show no contrition, no remorse. You haven't identified with your victims, and therefore, I'm giving you a sentence of custody of 60 months. Now, I've never been in trouble in my life, and. And I thought he said six months. I looked down at my attorney who scribbled 60 on a piece of paper, and the only thing that go through my mind, other than I was going to get sick on the table in front of me, was I was going to be away from my family for four years and two months. 85% of your sentence. The judge then remanded me to custody, highly unusual for white collar offenders. And I began my sentence in the Philadelphia Detention center, almost a sister image of the Brooklyn Detention Center. I spent six weeks there, and it was certainly quite scary in the beginning. It was someplace that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemies. After about six weeks, I had been transferred to the camp in Miami. I was out in 21 months. So I learned how to work within the system and navigate a system which really is not meant to be navigated. The other thing I learned is that there were people there that had advice from other people than their attorney prior to sentencing that got much better sentences and much better outcomes. And I learned that there was a whole field of people called prison consultants.
Sam Mangle
So that's where you first learned about this job or this career path. Wow.
Marjorie Hernandez
Yes.
Sam Mangle
So. So being the fact that you had. You were incarcerated, you knew what it was like being in there, you think that gives you better insight as to what federal prisoners are going through?
Marjorie Hernandez
Not only did I learn what it was like to be in a camp where I was in Miami, that's when I learned that, you know, there are things that can be done that no one could advise me of, did advise me of that could help me get home sooner. Now, I tell my clients and prospective clients that if we work together and you follow the protocol and the rules and do what's necessary, on average, my clients spend about 30% of their sentence in custody. I learned that proper preparation prior to sentencing, knowing the environment you're going into and once you're there, knowing what programs to take, how to qualify for them, and ultimately how to prepare for your release, knowing that you're dealing with a system that has a rule book, and it's the same rulebook that I had to follow that El chapo, who's in AdMax, has to follow. It's one book for everyone. And it's not the Bureau of Prison's culture or job to help me or rehabilitate me to get out sooner. It's there to house me and feed me three meals A day. And if I wasn't proactive and doing what I had to do, they were more than happy to let me sleep there for four years and two months.
Sam Mangle
So folks who have been found guilty and are going to be sentenced seek out your help to help them navigate through the system and find essentially how to survive the system.
Marjorie Hernandez
Actually, I do a lot of work with attorneys, but people that are just charged well before the plea or if they go to trial, most people do accept the plea.
Sam Mangle
Oh, so they hire you from the very beginning?
Marjorie Hernandez
Ideally from the very beginning. I occasionally, not often, thank God, receive phone calls the night before someone's scheduled to surrender and there's only so much I can do in 24 hours. Yeah, it's difficult. I believe in being very hands on. This is not a transactional business. This is about picking and choosing your clients so that you can give them the attention that they need and in many cases are not getting from their attorneys. Because attorneys, typically their job is to get you to sentencing and it ends there.
Sam Mangle
Right.
Marjorie Hernandez
Mine goes for what could be years after.
Sam Mangle
But the fact that you also have been into prisons, you were in the system and you mentioned that the jail where did he is now is very similar to one of the lockups where you were at. Right now he's in Brooklyn, NBC Metropolitan Detention center, which is notorious for having really awful conditions. There have been prisoners who have died there. Can you give me an insight into what someone like Diddy is facing at a place like that?
Marjorie Hernandez
Well, on Friday there was a major race riot at Brooklyn D.C. 45 people were injured. I'm told at least one casualty. Numerous people have been taken to the hospital. The detention center is on lockdown for at least one month. They're not allowing any visits other than legal visits and even those are being strained. The only time an inmate can come out of their cell. So Diddy, as well as everyone else in that facility, they are locked in their cell 24 hours a day.
Sam Mangle
Normally they're allowed what, an hour or so?
Marjorie Hernandez
No, no, he's on what I call general population floor, even though I think it's 4W. It's a single tiered floor. I was on a single tier floor that are usually used for more high profile inmates. He's on the same floor, Sam Bankman Fried. I have a client that is a foreign national that's on that floor. I think he's one or two cells over from Sean Combs.
Sam Mangle
Really?
Marjorie Hernandez
So typically you're allowed out from six in the morning until nine o' clock at night. Other Than what? When they do counts, when you have to go back in your cell, they lock you in, they do a standing count and. And then you're allowed back out. So he's allowed out from usually six in the morning until nine o' clock at night.
Sam Mangle
So someone like Diddy, who's obviously very well known and we've had sources who have said, you know, he, he might have a target on his back just because of his high profile. He's actually in general population.
Marjorie Hernandez
So let me explain. General population is a, is a loose term for you're not in protective custody. So either you're in protective custody, the shoe special housing unit.
Sam Mangle
Right.
Marjorie Hernandez
Or you're in general population. In his case, he's on it, I believe it's 4W. So it's a single tiered floor that has 18 men or 18 cells on the floor. Most of the cells are single man cells, some are double man cells, but it is for high profile individuals. Luis Mangioni, I believe, the Alexander brothers, people that are very high profile and prone to, to extortion, prone to violence against them. The facility can't afford to have a high profile, certainly any inmate, but in this case a high profile inmate get injured from another inmate. And because the MDC is a dangerous place, obviously, look what happened last Friday, they really can't adequately protect somebody like him unless he's on a segregated floor. So yes, they are in general population, but on a safer floor.
Sam Mangle
Right. And obviously he is alone in his.
Marjorie Hernandez
Cell and he's locked down now at least 23 out of 24. I'm sure they allow him out, you know, at least three times a week for a shower, maybe to make a phone call, but that's about it. So he's being fed in his cell. It's a six by nine cell. The little slap for a window. He's being fed in his cell. If he wants to exercise, it's in a cell. He can read in the cell. There are no TVs and that's where he is and will be for the next month. Other than legal visits, I know my client as well as other clients. I work closely with another consultant that is actually a Mangione's consultant. They're clamoring for legal visits because it's the only time that they can get out of their cells to see people, interact with people.
Sam Mangle
So during the lockdown, are they even able to see family members and get visits?
Marjorie Hernandez
No social visits. The only visits permitted during this lockdown are, are legal visits.
Sam Mangle
Wow. How did that start up this riot that happened last Friday, you can actually.
Marjorie Hernandez
Go onto the website and see that all visits are suspended. It is on lockdown. When I did some more inquiry and I spoke to one of the executive assistants at the facility, they went into some form of detail, as much as they could as to what the situation was.
Sam Mangle
So when you have high profile individuals like Diddy and Sam Bankman Fried and Luigi Mangione, are, are there extra steps taken to, I don't know, separate them or protect them in any way? Because you know, when you hear riot that rings some bells and some concerns.
Marjorie Hernandez
They'Re not on a floor that would be susceptible to the riots again, they're on a floor with other high profile individuals.
Sam Mangle
Right.
Marjorie Hernandez
That the last thing they want to do is is get involved in the ride. So they're on a truly segregated floor from everybody else. Now they are punished the same as everyone else in the facility. Well, fortunately, while they might be safer, they will suffer the same consequences as everyone in that facility, which is the.
Sam Mangle
Lockdown, that they're not going to be able to have visits.
Marjorie Hernandez
No television. I mean if they have a radio, they could probably listen to the radio and to the televisions that are being played on the unit, but they can't see it. They still get mail, but that's about it.
Sam Mangle
When you hear something like that, what do you tell your clients in terms of helping themselves get through something like that?
Marjorie Hernandez
So I can say from firsthand experience, on my second morning at the Philadelphia Detention Center, I remember I just gotten out of the shower and all of a sudden out of the side of my eye, I saw one gentleman rush another gentleman in the shower next to me and stabbed him with a shank, something sharp. And as soon as that person was stabbed out of nowhere, my cellmate grabbed me and pulled me back into the cell. And his advice, which is something that I would give anyone going in that situation is get back to your cell, stay out of it. Keep in mind that most of my clients will never see that they self surrender to the prison camp. There is no violence in a prison camp. You can't be convicted of a violent offense if you're in a prison camp. Now, in the examples of Sean Combs or Mangioni, anyone else that I'm aware of on that floor, my advice would be if you are found guilty, you need to get to a United States penitentiary. That's the highest level facility. That's where they will go that you will be able to live. Not live well, not live successfully, but live. If that's the best you can offer someone and their family that they will be able to live and not get hurt or die, really kind of put that in context as far as what. What any potential upside is.
Sam Mangle
So, of course, Diddy is still considered innocent. And to improve in guilty, he has not gone to trial yet, which for right now is scheduled for May 5th. So he a long way to go to see what happens. But I find it interesting that a lot of these defense teams actually bring someone in like you from the very beginning to kind of map out what could happen in, I guess, what could be a worst case scenario for them.
Marjorie Hernandez
A lot of my. The attorneys I work with bring me in almost as a therapist. They get very frustrated dealing with the defendant, because to a defendant, regardless of the charge, as a defendant, we bury our heads in the stand. We are the epitome of a stork, and we are in denial. You know, the five stages of grief. We are in denial. And defendants overwhelmingly are in denial until the judge renders a sentence if found guilty or they plead guilty. And it doesn't really sink in to most people until the judge bangs that gavel and his sentence of a period of time in the custody of, of the Bureau of Prisons is red. Prior to that, there's a lot of wishful thinking and hopeful thinking and optimism that I think most intelligent defendants will have. Their attorneys will get them out of this. God will get them out of this. They will get themselves out of it. President Trump will get them out of it. There's a lot of wishful thinking. Until that judge reads those words, you are remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. My job is to prepare them. As someone who's been through it, it's easier for me to explain it to them.
Sam Mangle
That makes sense when obviously, especially somebody who has never had any experience of being arrested or facing federal charges, that's huge. Do you also get involved with their family?
Marjorie Hernandez
I would say probably 40% of my work is with families. It is not uncommon at all for a family member to call. Okay. So my client, who's in Brooklyn on Sunday, I received a call from his family. Haven't heard from my husband in two days. He calls me normally twice a day. I'm very worried what's going on. And that's when I realized that there's a lockdown. So that's when I called the facility.
Sam Mangle
So somebody like you who has insider knowledge and can more easily access those folks, so you get. You kind of serve as a conduit to the family to Let them know, hey, this is what went down.
Marjorie Hernandez
Yes. I always know who to call at each facility in order to find out what's going on. Now, if the person goes to the hospital due to hipaa, they're not going to disclose confidential information, but they can say, listen, he was taken to the hospital, he'll be okay. At least I can share that with the spouse or a loved one. The Bureau of Prisons is a black hole. Once you're in it, there is no information that comes out unless you know how to get it out or navigate that system.
Sam Mangle
We have so much more coming up, but for now, let's pause for a break. Welcome back. And we're still here with federal prison consultant Sam Mangle. So your client, he actually is in the same area as where Diddy's house and where Mangione's house?
Marjorie Hernandez
I believe he's two cells over.
Sam Mangle
Two cells over. Wow. Has he even interacted with Diddy or spoken to him or seen him?
Marjorie Hernandez
Yes. So I've had a number of clients, three clients that have been on that floor at one time or another. I also had a number of January 6 clients that were in the facility, although not on that floor. And they all told me that, you know, he is a very interesting fellow. He was calm. He's taking it as well as can be expected. You know, nothing that that one would not expect from somebody that's used to the ultimate amount of freedom, luxury, being totally unencumbered to now, being told when to go to bed, when to get up, when to shower, when to use a phone, when to use a computer, when to eat, when to stand by your bed and be counted. So it is a deeply demoralizing effect when you're in there. But I'm told that all the guys on that floor are friendly. They get along. They play board games, chess, checkers, backgammon with each other, they watch TV together, they're very cordial towards each other. Because when you're in prison, you're the same as the guy next to you, regardless of your wealth or public stature. You all get $360 a month to spend the commissary. You all get the same outfit to wear. You all get the same set of headphones, you get the same meals, same visiting privileges. So whether you're a billionaire or you're a vagrant on the street that's arrested, you all get the same thing. You're a number. You are an 8 digit number. When the guy comes around and counts you and asks you to identify yourself, you don't identify yourself as Sean Combs. You identify yourself as your 8 digit BOP number.
Sam Mangle
It's interesting that you brought out that inmates and that floor. We might be playing checkers or watch TV together. I can't fathom Diddy having a sit down and playing checkers with another individual in jail. Is that the kind of interaction that he would be having or is he mostly in his cell?
Marjorie Hernandez
No, as far as I know. And the last time I spoke with anyone, his name came up. He sat in the general population floor. They played, you know, spades, the card game. It was around holiday time, so I believe he was as depressed as any other guy that was there that couldn't be with their family because obviously you have restricted visits and how long you can be with someone and how many visitors can come in. So it is a depressing time. But he was friendly and congenial as everyone else on that floor. I'm sure he laughed at times. Yeah, it's not a funny situation to be in. But they all look around and say in their opinions what a mockery of justice it is that they are here. You know, they're all still pre sentence, pre trial, so there's a lot of optimism still that they can hold.
Sam Mangle
So again, so that was around the holidays, Christmas time, when a client of yours had that interaction with Diddy?
Marjorie Hernandez
Yes, yes.
Sam Mangle
Wow.
Marjorie Hernandez
I mean, I'm sure he's interacting with him, but I haven't, I haven't asked that recently.
Sam Mangle
Wow, that's interesting. Just him still having that interaction with other people. And like you said, it's kind of being in prison. It's kind of like the equalizer, right?
Marjorie Hernandez
The great equalizer.
Sam Mangle
The great equalizer. But he's out there playing cards with, with his fellow inmates, I guess at this point. I'm also curious that, you know, there is obviously the concern that he could be a target because of who he is. And given the charges he's facing. If you were his consultant, is that something that you would warn him about or what would you say to him in terms of protecting himself? Himself?
Marjorie Hernandez
So you're talking about physically. Physically a target. Yeah, where he currently is. He's not a target. Where he currently is. He's safe and that's why he is where he is. If I were consulting him, should he be found guilty, I would, you know, be working with his legal team to get him to the best facility based upon his sentence. Remember, because of his charges, which are very serious charges, he stands to serve upwards of 40 years to life in prison in that Situation, they will only send him to a high security or United States penitentiary. It is bad there. That's the worst of the worst.
Sam Mangle
And it could be any penitentiary in the country.
Marjorie Hernandez
So normally what's called under the First Step act, they try to put somebody within 500 miles of their family, that ideal. In his situation I would say that should not be a overwhelming concern that they need to get him to the safest facility. So my, my comment would be okay, let's get him to like a Tucson USP or somewhere that again he will have the opportunity to live his life, have visits with his family, but be safe. Not pleasant, but safe.
Sam Mangle
Wow. I mean what you do is very interesting. The fact that you're kind of starting from the beginning when you have somebody like a big name like Diddy. What would you suggest to him in preparing for the trial?
Marjorie Hernandez
He has to go in there very solid, very respectful of the jury, let his attorney, you know, Mark Agniflo is an amazing attorney, let his attorney handle the jury properly and you know, through the voir dire process figure out who's the best person to hear that case. Unfortunately, 98% of all federal charges, whether through a plea or through a trial, do lead to a conviction. So overwhelmingly the odds are stacked against him. I've only had out of the hundreds and hundreds of people I've helped, only one client, a doctor in Pennsylvania went to trial and won. So it is an anomaly to actually win preparing him. There's only so much that a consultant can do with serious charges like that. It's why I said most of my clients are white collar offenders. Where I would really come in and be helpful is if he is found guilty again, preparing him and his family for what's next. Because a USP is dramatically different than a detention center. And the strategies to get him the most amount of freedom as quickly as possible is something that I would want to work with him on. But first and foremost, if sound guilty, where to get him to a place that he's safe, that his family knows he's safe so that he can then institute whatever we we strategies we, we can put into place for him given those circumstances.
Sam Mangle
Like you said, he's still considered innocent until proven guilty. And we have a long way to go until he goes to trial. So we'll see how that shakes out. So Sam, you mentioned that if found guilty did he would go to a US penitentiary somewhere in the country, but normally it would be somewhere near his family. But can you explain what the difference is between where he is now? At in the Brooklyn facility versus a US Penitentiary where he could end up.
Marjorie Hernandez
Sure. So I would actually recommend that if he is found guilty and depending upon the length of his sentence and what he's found guilty of, that he would go to a USP United States Penitentiary, which is the highest level security facility other than AdMax in Florence, Colorado, probably in Tucson, Arizona. The reason I say that is that's where somebody has a life sentence that's convicted of a sex crime, can serve safely. So where Sean Combs currently is, is a segregated protected floor of 18 men. Now might not be full, but can hold 18 people. High profile, very safe. If he's found guilty and if he is transferred to a high security penitentiary, it is at that point that he could be in a, in a prison with 40 foot walls and gun towers and individual cells on a block that might hold 400 men. And he's truly in a general population environment where when they are allowed outside, he's on a closed yard with potentially 1,000 men under heavy guard security with controlled movement, which means they can only move around the facility in one direction at 10 minutes before the hour for 10 minutes. And it is subject to substantial violence. Because in a high security facility you will see the worst of the worst. People that have nothing to lose by catching another charge, gang members, it's very common to see that. So the goal would be to get him to the safest of the high security facilities which in my opinion currently is USP Tucson where they have a sexual offender yard that is a protected yard. He would be amongst other sexual offenders that have lengthy sentences, but that for whatever reason might need a higher level of protection for themselves. And even if somebody like Luis Mangioni was, was convicted and found guilty and sentenced to a long period of time in the federal system and it's not a sexual charge, I would still recommend going to a place like that because as of today that is the safest of the United States penitentiaries in the system.
Sam Mangle
Why is it considered the safest?
Marjorie Hernandez
Because of the population. So if you think about the population, a higher propensity or population of sexual offenders, they don't put gang members there or maybe they'll put gang dropouts there. So they really do their best to filter the population that goes in there. So it is certainly not a four seasons by any means in terms of the, you know, prison system, but it is the safest place where he will be able to survive and live. That's it. Other than that it is identical to every other high security Facility.
Sam Mangle
So ultimately a judge would decide again, if he is found guilty, he hasn't been. Ultimately decide where he would go.
Marjorie Hernandez
No, no.
Sam Mangle
Oh, it's not.
Marjorie Hernandez
A judge can only make a recommendation. So again, when I work with my clients, we do a lot of work with our clients to figure out what's the best facility for them prior to sentencing. Then at sentencing, we have certain asks of the judge which are strictly recommendations. And then once we get that, we, my firm works with the Bureau of Prisons to get him to that facility.
Sam Mangle
Oh, okay, gotcha. So obviously the judge hands out the sentence and then you guys then come in and say, this is where we would want to place him. Who decides where he goes?
Marjorie Hernandez
So we asked for a judicial recommendation. Judicial recommendations are followed about 74% of the time, but it's no guarantee it's strictly a recommendation. We then take the judicial recommendation, the judgment, and work with counsel and the Bureau of Prisons to get him there.
Sam Mangle
So it's a Bureau of Prisons. Gotcha. Oh, yes, that's interesting. So for right now, Tucson is the best place as far as you know. Wow, that's very far away from New York.
Marjorie Hernandez
It is. But at least his family can come visit him as opposed to going someplace like Canaan USP in Pennsylvania that might be closer to him. But if you only survive a few weeks or a few months, wow. You know, there's a big picture here. And if found guilty and the worst comes to the worst, you still want to be able to survive and see your children grow up when they come and visit and be able to communicate with them.
Sam Mangle
Very fascinating stuff. I've learned a lot from Sam today. It's very fascinating. I find it interesting that a lot of people like you are part of the legal team. Right. Kind of help navigate worst case scenario, I guess.
Marjorie Hernandez
Well, a good legal team will always bring in a good consultant. I find that many lawyers do not know about us, or a lot of them have what we call God complex and think they can handle it all. The best attorneys know their limitations and know when to bring in other members of the team. Forensic psychologists, doctors, consultants.
Sam Mangle
Do you know if Diddy has a prison consultant like you?
Marjorie Hernandez
As of now, it's my understanding he does not.
Sam Mangle
Would you suggest that he get one?
Marjorie Hernandez
I would. I strongly would. However, there again, there are certain defendants that put their head in the sand and are convinced that they're going to beat the charge. And in their own mind. Sometimes the notion of hiring a prison consultant is self defeating. Like, okay, I resign myself to go to prison and if I don't hire a prison consultant, then maybe I won't go to prison. I don't know why that logic exists, but but I've seen that so the.
Sam Mangle
Best defense is to prepare yourself for any scenario.
Marjorie Hernandez
The best defense is a good offense. But I always tell my clients, imagine you're the conductor of the train. You drive the train. Everybody else works for you and will follow your instructions. The more knowledge you have about what's in front of you, what obstacles are in front of you will make it a better ride or a more navigable ride. Can't guarantee the outcome by any means, but the more information that you and your team have available to you, the better the decisions that you can make are and at most of these junctures, a descendant only gets one bite at the apple. And if they screw up that bite, they have a much greater hurdle down the road.
Sam Mangle
So for now, that's it. Thanks again to this week's guest, Sam Mangle. Great to have him on the podcast. And as we prepare for Diddy's trial in May or whenever that might actually be, what other trials would you like for us to cover? Let us know by email thetrialailymail.com or you can WhatsApp us on 447-7966-57512 and start your message with and as ever, thank you for listening. Please share all your comments, suggestions and thoughts on the Trial of Diddy on Apple or Spotify and follow us on TikTok@DailyMailCrime. Do follow the Trial of Diddy as we will be here each week with fresh information, new insights and some expert guests. Goodbye.
Summary of "It's Certainly Not A Four Seasons" – The Trial of Diddy Podcast Episode
Release Date: February 28, 2025
The episode opens with Marjorie Hernandez highlighting the gravity of Sean "Diddy" Combs' current legal challenges. Once a powerhouse in the music industry, Diddy now faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and running a criminal enterprise. Hernandez remarks, "The biggest secret in the entertainment industry that really wasn't a secret at all has finally been revealed to the world" (00:02).
Sam Mangle provides a backdrop of Diddy's fall from grace. At the peak of his career, Diddy was a celebrated mogul producing hits for artists like Biggie and J.Lo. However, recent developments have seen him embroiled in serious legal battles, with four lawsuits alleging sexual assault. Hernandez adds, "Music mogul and rapper Sean Diddy Combs has faced four different lawsuits in recent weeks alleging sexual assault" (00:45). The severity of these allegations is underscored by descriptions of violent incidents, such as Diddy allegedly "throwing her to the ground" (00:54) and accusations of drugging and assaulting victims (01:01).
The episode details a significant development in Diddy's legal team. One of his main attorneys, Anthony Rico, has filed a motion to withdraw from the case, citing "sufficient reasons" protected by attorney-client privilege (02:00). This departure raises concerns about the stability and strategy of Diddy's defense. Additionally, Diddy's remaining attorneys have opposed the involvement of Texas-based attorney Tony Busby, accusing him of ethical violations and misconduct (02:36). Busby, however, refutes these claims by providing proof of his licensure in New York (03:00).
A significant portion of the episode features an interview with federal prison consultant Sam Mangle. Mangle elaborates on his role, stating, "We work with defendants, their families, attorneys that are going through the federal criminal system" (04:45). He shares his personal experience of wrongful incarceration, which inspired his career in prison consulting. Mangle emphasizes the importance of early engagement, advising that clients ideally hire a consultant from the outset to navigate the complexities of the federal prison system (09:05). He also discusses strategies to reduce incarceration time, noting that his clients typically serve about 30% of their sentences in custody through proper preparation and adherence to protocols (07:40).
Marjorie Hernandez provides an in-depth look at the current conditions at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, where Diddy is held. She describes a recent race riot that led to injuries and a subsequent lockdown, restricting visits to only legal ones (10:22). The facility is portrayed as harsh, with inmates confined to their cells nearly 24/7. Diddy is housed on a high-profile floor alongside other notable inmates like Sam Bankman Fried, in what is considered a safer section to prevent violence against well-known individuals (11:18). Hernandez explains, "You're a number. You are an 8 digit number. When the guy comes around and counts you and asks you to identify yourself, you don't identify yourself as Sean Combs" (22:18).
Despite his high-profile status, Diddy is reported to interact with fellow inmates, engaging in activities like playing card games during his time on the general population floor. Hernandez notes that, "They all look around and say in their opinions what a mockery of justice it is that they are here" (23:26). This reflects the egalitarian nature of prison life, where status and wealth hold no sway, and all inmates share similar living conditions and privileges.
Mangle discusses the critical steps Diddy should take in preparation for his upcoming trial scheduled for May 5, 2025. He advises Diddy to present himself respectfully to the jury and rely on his legal team to navigate the voir dire process effectively (25:43). Highlighting the low success rate of federal charges, Mangle emphasizes the importance of being prepared for all possible outcomes, including lengthy incarceration. He underscores the necessity of transferring to a safer facility if convicted, recommending USP Tucson as the optimal location for Diddy’s protection due to its controlled environment and population filtering (27:49).
Emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach, Mangle insists that a robust defense team should include various experts, including prison consultants, forensic psychologists, and other specialists. He critiques attorneys who attempt to manage without such support, advocating for comprehensive preparation to navigate the intricacies of the legal and prison systems effectively (33:02). When asked about whether Diddy has a prison consultant, Hernandez responds that, as of the episode's recording, he does not, and strongly recommends that he hire one to ensure the best possible outcomes regardless of the trial's result (33:05).
The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of being prepared for all scenarios in high-stakes legal battles. Mangle reiterates the value of knowledge and proactive strategy in ensuring the safety and well-being of clients like Diddy, regardless of the trial’s outcome. The hosts encourage listeners to engage with the podcast through various platforms to stay updated on Diddy's case and other major trials.
Notable Quotes:
Marjorie Hernandez: "The biggest secret in the entertainment industry that really wasn't a secret at all has finally been revealed to the world." (00:02)
Sam Mangle: "We bury our heads in the sand. We are the epitome of a stork, and we are in denial." (17:14)
Marjorie Hernandez: "You're a number. You are an 8 digit number." (22:18)
Sam Mangle: "The best defense is a good offense." (33:10)
This episode offers a comprehensive examination of Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal challenges, the intricacies of federal incarceration, and the critical role of prison consultants in navigating the criminal justice system. Through expert insights and firsthand experiences, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the high-profile trial and its broader implications.