Rapper Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi testified at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial, revealing that the hip-hop mogul broke into his home in 2011 after discovering that Mr. Mescudi was dating his on-and-off girlfriend, Casandra Ventura.
This incident is part of a series of violent and threatening actions prosecutors accuse Mr. Combs of carrying out during a two-decade scheme to pressure women, including Ms. Ventura, into participating in drug-fueled sex parties dubbed “freak offs” and to keep them from leaving his influence.
Mr. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. His lawyers have acknowledged his history of substance abuse and domestic violence, but maintain that the women involved in the freak offs did so willingly.
While testifying as a prosecution witness, Mr. Mescudi informed the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates in Manhattan federal court that Ms. Ventura called him one morning in December 2011, stating that Mr. Combs had discovered their relationship and requested that Mr. Mescudi come and pick her up.
Mr. Mescudi, known for his hits “Day ‘N’ Nite” and “Memories,” recounted that one of Ms. Ventura’s associates informed him that Mr. Combs was inside his home. After dropping off Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel, Mr. Mescudi drove home while calling Mr. Combs.
During the drive, Mr. Mescudi said he called Mr. Combs, exclaiming, “I said, mother******, you in my house?”
Mr. Mescudi stated that Mr. Combs appeared calm and expressed a desire to talk.
Upon arriving at his house, Mr. Mescudi noted that he was alone. He observed that the gifts he had purchased for his family were unwrapped and that his dog was locked in the bathroom. He subsequently reported the break-in to the police.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Cassie’s Testimony
Ms. Ventura, who performs as Cassie, testified on May 14 that Mr. Combs kicked her in the back in 2011 after he learned she was seeing Mr. Mescudi, one of many violent incidents she described during her 11-year relationship with Mr. Combs.
She also stated that he threatened to release compromising videos of her and to have someone harm both her and Mr. Mescudi.
Jurors were shown photographs of bruises on Ms. Ventura’s body captured by her mother shortly after the event.
Mr. Mescudi testified that he and Ms. Ventura ended their relationship soon after the break-in.
He mentioned that in January 2012, he learned from his dog’s babysitter that his car had caught fire in his driveway.
In a civil lawsuit for sex trafficking filed against Mr. Combs in November 2023, Ms. Ventura alleged that Mr. Combs was responsible for exploding Mr. Mescudi’s car. Mr. Combs denied any wrongdoing and settled the lawsuit by paying her $20 million shortly after it was filed.
Known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, Mr. Combs founded Bad Boy Records, helping launch the careers of artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Usher. He played a pivotal role in elevating hip-hop within American culture during the 1990s and early 2000s, becoming a billionaire in the process.
Mr. Combs has been in federal custody in Brooklyn since his arrest in September 2024.
