NEW YORK (AP) — A former Syracuse College basketball participant who labored lately for Sean “Diddy” Combs as a private assistant testified on the music mogul’s intercourse trafficking trial on Friday that Combs obtained “extremely creative” when he was on medicine.
Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested final 12 months at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he testified with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a 12 months and a half. Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the identical day federal brokers carried out a number of searches associated to the Combs’ investigation.
Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony from an array of witnesses starting from ex-girlfriends and former staff to male intercourse employees and the rapper Child Cudi. Ye, previously generally known as Kanye West, even made a shock look on the courthouse.
The prosecution seeks to persuade the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for twenty years that relied on obedience by staff prepared to do something for him, together with shopping for medicine when mandatory.
Protection legal professionals say Combs didn’t commit federal crimes, though they acknowledge that prosecutors have uncovered home violence throughout the trial. After pleading not responsible following his September arrest at a Manhattan resort, Combs has been held with out bail at a federal lockup in Brooklyn.
Prosecutors have been anticipated to relaxation their case by Monday. A protection presentation is anticipated to final from two to 5 days.
Paul mentioned he purchased medicine for Combs between 5 and 10 instances, spending as much as $500 for medicine together with cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana.
He mentioned he solely did medicine with Combs as soon as, when Combs requested him to strive “tusi,” also referred to as pink cocaine, to see if it was good.
Paul mentioned he did so as a result of he “wanted to prove my loyalty” and mentioned he thought it was good.
“We continued on with our night,” he informed Assistant U.S. Legal professional Christy Slavic.
Paul mentioned that previous to his arrest, he had forgotten concerning the cocaine after gathering it whereas “sweeping” Combs’ room that morning and had by chance left it in a bag he carried as he ready to go on trip with Combs and different aides. The costs have been dismissed after Paul accomplished a pretrial diversion program.
Below questioning by protection legal professional Brian Metal, Paul mentioned his “heart dropped” when he realized that there was cocaine in a journey bag after telling officers on the airport that every thing within the bag belonged to him.
Metal requested Paul if Combs was typically joyful and did not harm anybody when he was on medicine.
“He got extremely creative,” Paul responded.
At one other level, Metal requested the witness: “You would not work for a criminal, would you?”
“Absolutely not,” Paul responded.
Slavic, although, elicited Paul’s combined emotions about Combs when the prosecutor requested him simply earlier than he completed his testimony: “Sitting here today, how do you feel about Mr. Combs?”
“It’s complicated,” he answered.
Paul, initially from Cleveland, was a 6-foot-2 guard who walked on at Syracuse College and got here off the bench in 16 video games over two seasons, taking part in a complete of 17 minutes and scored simply 3 factors. He later transferred to lower-tier Fairmont State College in West Virginia, the place he performed for 2 extra seasons.
