Crime and Punishment
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The sex trafficking trial for Sean “Diddy” Combs is underway after opening statements were heard as the prosecution unveiled their star witness, Cassie Ventura, who took the stand. Among the harrowing details shared by Cassie Ventura, she added that her fear of Diddy’s anger is why she went along with the so-called “freak-off” parties.
We do wish to caution readers before proceeding, as some of the details within will be disturbing to some.
TMZ reports that prosecutors opened up their case on Tuesday (May 13) to discuss the allegations of sexual abuse, violence, coercion, and assault that occurred under Diddy’s watch and direction. Before Ventura took the stand, the prosecution shared that Combs forced his ex-girlfriend to have sex with male escorts, with one allegedly urinating in her mouth under Combs’ orders.
Ventura, who was accompanied by her husband Alex Fine to court, spoke about the 2016 beating at the hands of Combs, sharing that it happened shortly after a freak-off party. When asked why she participated willingly, Ventura shared that she was “confused, nervous. I wanted to make him happy.”
Prosecutors questioned if Ventura agreed to attend the initial freak-off party, and she did so without knowing it would be the start of more.
“Then there were more. It wasn’t something I wanted to do, at least not that frequently,” Ventura told the prosecutors. She added that the fear of retaliation and the threat that Diddy would release the video footage of the freak-off activities kept her from saying anything.
Ventura also told prosecutors that she provided evidence of the freak-off parties, sharing that she provided several laptops that allegedly contained said footage. Amid all of this, Ventura and Fine are expecting their third child.
On X, reactions to the opening statements are in, and we’ve got some listed below.
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Turkey Leg Hut, the popular Houston restaurant that attracted huge crowds and celebrity interest, is at the center of an ongoing scandal involving its former owner, Lynn Price. According to the FBI, pounds of marijuana were sold at Turkey Leg Hut and reportedly emblazoned with the company’s logo.
The Houston Chronicle reports that FBI special Agent Deborah Cline testified last week at a detention hearing for Lynn Price, 42, who owned the Turkey Leg Hut, which closed for good last year. Price was arrested last week in connection with a 2020 arson, alleging that he paid four men $1,400 to set fire to a bar situated across the street from his establishment.
One of the four men, John Lee Price, said that he helped aid a covert marijuana operation using product shipped in from California and sold in bags bearing the Turkey Leg Hut logo. Price reportedly didn’t handle the day-to-day sales himself but is framed as a ringleader of the operation.
Lynn Price nor the men accused of setting fire to Bar 5105 have been accused of anything connected to the marijuana operation. Agent Cline said over 1,000 pounds of marijuana was kept on the premises of the restaurant, which was guarded around the clock.
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The sex trafficking trial for Sean “Diddy” Combs takes place this week, and on Monday (May 5), the jury selection process was underway. Diddy’s charges include sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting to engage in prostitution.
As reported by NPR, jury selection kicked off Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial on Monday in what is expected to be one of the more explosive cases heard in New York in some time. The longtime music executive and business mogul has been accused of several heinous crimes, and several individuals have launched lawsuits accusing Combs of committing acts of violence, intimidation, and more.
The jury selection process will reportedly take one week to complete, and opening statements are scheduled to be heard by U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian on May 12. Initially arrested on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, prosecutors filed a superseding indictment last and tacked on two additional charges: sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and the aforementioned transporting charge.
Diddy’s legal team requested a two-month delay for the trial as they wanted more time to respond to last month’s indictment. Judge Subramanian denied the request. It is expected that several witnesses and victims who allege Combs harmed them will take the stand. And unlike many trials of this magnitude, the trial will not be shown on television.
Combs faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The transporting to engage in prostitution count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
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Soulja Boy will have to pay his former assistant $4 million in compensatory damages and an additional $250,000 in punitive damages in connection with a civil lawsuit. Jane Doe accused Soulja Boy of assault, sexual battery, and harassment and launched a lawsuit in 2021.
Both Rolling Stone and Pitchfork have extensively covered the case involving Soulja Boy and Jane Doe, with details coming forth that the pair did enter into a consensual physical relationship that later took a turn for the worse, according to Doe.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Jane Doe said that while she feels vindicated, her hope is that the “Crank That” rapper won’t do this again to anyone else.
“I feel like I got justice. Obviously, it’s not going to return everything I lost. I lost way more than I gained. My hope is he doesn’t do this to any more women,” Doe told the outlet.
In a statement to the outlet, Soulja Boy is vowing to appeal the matter.
“The district attorney never filed charges. I was never charged or convicted of this, criminally. So, to be accused of this civilly is beyond me. I’ve never done any of the things they’re accusing me of. I just feel like this is very unfair,” the rapper born DeAndre Cortez Way said to Rolling Stone.He then added, “I want to make it clear that I’m innocent. This case was never about justice. It was about money and personal gain, and I will not let that stand. I am committed to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to be revealed.”For victims of sexual assault, domestic partner violence, and abuse, please see the following to find out how to get assistance:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotlinehttps://www.rainn.org1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text LineSMS: Text “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741
The National Domestic Violence Hotlinehttps://thehotline.org1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
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Eugene “Big U” Henley Jr. made headlines after a sweeping 43-count indictment was levied upon the longtime music executive and alleged gang leader. Big U has entered a not guilty plea over racketeering and fraud, among other charges.
Local outlet Fox 11 reports that Eugene “Big U” Henley Jr., 58, pleaded not guilty ahead of a detention hearing set to take place on Thursday (April 10). Henley is accused of being a leading figure in the Rollin’ 60s Crips gang collective and using his “OG” status to extort entertainers and celebrities who visited Los Angeles.
Henley is also accused of running high-stakes and illegal gambling sessions, and is accused of doling out violence, including the alleged murder of an up-and-coming rapper in Las Vegas. Henley’s ties to music were notable, and he is credited with helping jumpstart the career of the late Nipsey Hussle.
Big U turned himself in to the authorities but made an impassioned set of videos explaining how much he’s done for the community and that he’s done work to end the gang violence that grips Southern California.
If convicted, Big U could face hundreds of years behind bars.
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Eugene “Big U” Henley Jr. made headlines after a sweeping 43-count indictment was levied upon the longtime music executive and alleged gang leader. Big U has entered a not guilty plea over racketeering and fraud, among other charges.
Local outlet Fox 11 reports that Eugene “Big U” Henley Jr., 58, pleaded not guilty ahead of a detention hearing set to take place on Thursday (April 10). Henley is accused of being a leading figure in the Rollin’ 60s Crips gang collective and using his “OG” status to extort entertainers and celebrities who visited Los Angeles.
Henley is also accused of running high-stakes and illegal gambling sessions, and is accused of doling out violence, including the alleged murder of an up-and-coming rapper in Las Vegas. Henley’s ties to music were notable, and he is credited with helping jumpstart the career of the late Nipsey Hussle.
Big U turned himself in to the authorities but made an impassioned set of videos explaining how much he’s done for the community and that he’s done work to end the gang violence that grips Southern California.
If convicted, Big U could face hundreds of years behind bars.
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Photo: Leon Bennett / Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Eugene “Big U” Henley Jr. made headlines after a sweeping 43-count indictment was levied upon the longtime music executive and alleged gang leader. Big U has entered a not guilty plea over racketeering and fraud, among other charges.
Local outlet Fox 11 reports that Eugene “Big U” Henley Jr., 58, pleaded not guilty ahead of a detention hearing set to take place on Thursday (April 10). Henley is accused of being a leading figure in the Rollin’ 60s Crips gang collective and using his “OG” status to extort entertainers and celebrities who visited Los Angeles.
Henley is also accused of running high-stakes and illegal gambling sessions, and is accused of doling out violence, including the alleged murder of an up-and-coming rapper in Las Vegas. Henley’s ties to music were notable, and he is credited with helping jumpstart the career of the late Nipsey Hussle.
Big U turned himself in to the authorities but made an impassioned set of videos explaining how much he’s done for the community and that he’s done work to end the gang violence that grips Southern California.
If convicted, Big U could face hundreds of years behind bars.
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Eugene Henley Jr., also known as Big U, is reportedly a prominent leading figure in the infamous Rollin’ 60s Crips gang. Big U was charged this week in a 43-count indictment that includes RICO charges, extortion, and more.The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California issued a press release via the U.S. Department of Justice website’s Central District of California website segment. In the press release, Big U and six other defendants were named in the sweeping indictment, and the charges all stem from federal investigators alleging that Henley used intimidation and street violence to get others to bend to his will.
From Justice.gov:
Eugene Henley, Jr., 58, a.k.a. “Big U,” of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and extortion (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, nine counts of attempted Hobbs Act extortion, five counts of Hobbs Act extortion, one count of transportation of an individual in interstate commerce with intent that the individual engage in prostitution (Mann Act), 15 counts of wire fraud, five counts of embezzlement, conversion, and intentional misapplication of funds from an organization receiving federal funds, one count of bank fraud, one count of tax evasion, and two counts of willful failure to file a tax return.
Also named in the state’s indictment release were:
Sylvester Robinson, 59, a.k.a. “Vey,” of Northridge;Mark Martin, 50, a.k.a. “Bear Claw,” of the Beverlywood area of Los Angeles;Termaine Ashley Williams, 42, a.k.a. “Luce Cannon,” of Las Vegas;Armani Aflleje, 38, a.k.a. “Mani,” of Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles;Fredrick Blanton Jr., 43, of South Los Angeles; andTiffany Shanrika Hines, 51, of Yorba Linda.
Investigators pointed to Henley’s alleged operations hub, known in court documents as Big U Enterprises, for being similar to the Mafia’s style of using violence, extortion, robbery, and even murder to advance the will of the organization.
“As the indictment alleges, Mr. Henley led a criminal enterprise whose conduct ranged from murder to sophisticated fraud that included stealing from taxpayers and a charity,” Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally shared in the press release. “Eradicating gangs and organized crime is the Department of Justice’s top priority. Today’s charges against the leadership of this criminal outfit will make our neighborhoods in Los Angeles safer.”
As seen in the indictment that was handed in on March 26, investigators say that from 2010 until March of this year, Henley’s power and influence extended beyond gang and street culture and expanded into the entertainment world. There have been swirling reports of Henley sanctioning high-stakes gambling meetups, trafficking sex workers across state lines, fraud, and more. Henley allegedly used his status a longtime member of the Crips and the respect it garnered to exact his will.
Henley, Robinson, and Martin would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the racketeering conspiracy count. The bank fraud charge levied against can carry up to 30 years in federal prison.
Read the full indictment here.
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A recently filed lawsuit alleges new bombshell claims against Hip-Hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. According to TMZ, the Bad Boy founder is being sued by a male photographer who alleges that the embattled star forced him to perform oral sex by threatening his career.
In the lawsuit obtained by TMZ, the accuser is a photographer who claims Diddy invited him to join him in a trailer for an opportunity to advance his career. However, the unnamed accuser said that the Hip-Hop mogul began making sexual advances and unzipping his pants.
The allegations are disturbing, with the accuser alleging that Diddy told him “If you suck right I’ll make your career take off.”
The accuser, who identifies as a straight man, says that he complied.
He later said that Diddy allegedly told him to hold semen in his mouth “like a squirrel.”
The photographer said that the incident occurred in 2022 or 2023 and that it took place in Diddy’s trailer on the set of a commercial. He says that he did not have further contact with the mogul afterward.
He is suing for sexual battery and financial damages due to emotional and mental pain and trauma.
Diddy’s legal team sent a statement to TMZ writing, “No matter how many lawsuits are filed—especially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claims—it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor.”
They added, “We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.”
Diddy has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since he was arrested on Sept. 16, 2024. He is being held without bond.
A new podcast, Bad Rap, from ABC Audio was recently released detailing the mogul’s ongoing sexual abuse and sex trafficking charges.
https://twitter.com/abcaudio/status/1904530774453555277
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Months after joining Donald Trump at one of his rallies in the Bronx (we just thought we’d point that out), rapper Sheff G has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and conspiracy and will be held accountable for his actions (unlike Donald Trump).
According to the New York Daily News, the “No Remorse” rapper is set to serve five years in prison after pleading guilty to taking part in a shooting that left rival gang member Theodore “Sniper” Senior dead and five others injured in 2020. Sheff G was one of the 32 alleged members of the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways gangs that was named in a 140-count indictment that was handed down in 2023, which in turn probably led to him supporting Donald Trump as the Orange Overlord is known to pardon rappers for political gain. Unfortunately, for Sheff G, Trump isn’t running for reelection, so chances of him handing out pardons to gain favorability from the Hip-Hop community is slim to none as he couldn’t care less about what the Black and Brown community thinks about him these autocratic days.
The New York Daily News reports:
“Notoriety could not shield this defendant from justice. He used his fame to fund and direct violence, terrorizing our streets, and though we sought a much longer sentence, he will now be held to account,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Wednesday.
Sheff G pleaded guilty to the top counts in his indictment, and prosecutors asked for 20 years. But Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun offered him five years in prison and five years supervised release over objections from the DA’s office.
They wound up in investigators’ crosshairs after the Oct. 21, 2020, drive-by shooting at Hawthorne St. and Nostrand Ave. in Prospect Lefferts Gardens that killed Senior, an alleged Folk Nation gang member, and wounded five others.
The shooting was sparked by a social media beef between Sheff G and a Folk Nation-affiliated rapper, Gonzalez said in 2023.
After the gunfire Sheff G texted one of the gunmen to ask if the shooting was “successful.” Two days after the drive-by Sheff G and his team celebrated with a fancy steak dinner where he presented the gunman with a custom gold chain with a “sniper’s crosshairs with two X marks over it to signify Senior was killed.”
At least Sheff G spoils his shooters? Just sayin’.
Now that Sheff G has pleaded guilty to the charges, he’ll be doing five years in prison and be back out on the streets before 2030. Not a bad deal given the circumstances.
What do y’all think about Sheff G’s sentence? Let us know in the comments section below.