Construction company laundered $13M from NYC in school repair scheme: feds
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged the owners of a construction company on Friday with defrauding the nation's largest school district in connection with more than $13.5 million worth of repairs.
Dalip Singh, 67, and Gurnirmal Singh, 64, of TEMCO Construction exploited undocumented immigrants without work authorization, falsified payroll records and eventually tried to destroy the evidence, according to the complaint. Both Singhs, who are not related, were arrested Friday, prosecutors announced.
'As alleged, the defendants lied to the [city's Education Department] about using undocumented workers, and deprived those workers — who toiled long days, school holidays and weekends — of proper compensation they had earned, so that they could line their pockets and bank accounts on New York City's tab,' Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement.
TEMCO Construction, formerly based in Jamaica, Queens, before moving to Long Island, provides masonry, scaffolding and construction services to the city's public schools.
Between 2017 and this year, prosecutors say TEMCO used undocumented labor and paid their workers in cash less than the wage required by New York State labor law and school system contracts — all while pocketing the difference.
Dalip Singh covered up the scheme on payrolls submitted to the city's Education Department, according to the complaint. On those certified documents, he allegedly listed family members who didn't do the repairs, omitted some workers who were undocumented, and inflated the pay of others. In some cases, employees had their wages docked on non-school-related jobs to offset legal pay, it read.
The employers then 'attempted to conceal their fraud,' prosecutors say, telling workers to lie to investigators about their wages and hide or destroy records.
If found guilty of conspiring to commit wire fraud, the company's owners could face up to 20 years in prison, according to a press release announcing the charges.
'New York City Public Schools expects that employees of vendors be paid consistent with contractual requirements — anything less is unacceptable and would be considered a breach of contract,' said schools spokeswoman Jenna Lyle, adding, 'We cannot comment on a pending criminal action.'
Attorney information was not readily available for Dalip Singh and Gurnirmal Singh, whose case remained under seal as of early Friday afternoon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Diddy Trial Reaches Explosive Conclusion as Defense Asks Jury to ‘Summon That Courage' to ‘Acquit Sean Combs'
On the final day of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial before jury deliberations, the hip-hop mogul's attorney Marc Agnifilo enlivened the courtroom with an impassioned closing argument. In the coming days, the jury will determine whether Combs is guilty of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. A conviction could land him behind bars for life. Agnifilo's demeanor was animated and at times folksy, unlike the prosecution's cold, formal tone. He paced around the courtroom, beginning his summations by gushing about Combs' character and business acumen, saying he was a champion of diversity. 'Sean Combs has become something that is very, very hard to be,' Agnifilo said. 'He is a self-made, successful, Black entrepreneur.' He recounted some of the positive things Combs' former employees said about him on the witness stand, adding, 'Did they always like him? No way. Let's not even go there. But they loved him. They didn't want to leave him.' More from Variety Diddy Prosecutors End Five-Hour Closing Argument: 'It's Time to Hold Him Accountable. It's Time for Justice' Diddy Speaks Out in Court: He Will Not Testify, Thanks Judge for 'Doing an Excellent Job' Diddy's Ex-Girlfriend Suggests He Had a 'Bi-Curiosity' He Was 'Ashamed to Explore' as His Lawyer Asks Her to Define 'Cuck' The defense put a spotlight on the presence of Combs' children and mother in the courtroom, saying, 'The man takes care of people.' Taking a swipe at one of Combs' alleged victims, 'Jane,' Agnifilo said, 'I hope she's having a nice day, but ya know where she's doing it? In a house he's paying for.' Agnifilo argued that Combs is on a 'false trial,' that he is not guilty of sex trafficking but is instead a member of the 'swingers lifestyle' who participated in consensual 'threesomes' with his ex-girlfriends and male entertainers. 'No one's forcing her to do this,' Agnifilo said of Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, Combs' ex who accused him of raping her and coercing her into hundreds of 'freak-offs,' drug-fueled sex parties that lasted days on end. At the center of the trial is a 2016 surveillance video that depicts Combs beating Ventura in a hotel hallway and allegedly attempting to drag her back into a 'freak-off.' 'We own the domestic violence,' Agnifilo said. Throughout the trial, the defense has admitted that Combs was violent with Ventura, but that the violence was not connected to the 'freak-offs.' Agnifilo painted Ventura as a strong, smart woman who enjoyed her sex life with Combs. 'She's a woman who actually likes sex,' Agnifilo said. 'Good for her! She's beautiful, she should. She's intense. She's unafraid.' Agnifilo referenced Ventura's testimony about her brief love affair with the singer Scott Mescudi, aka Kid Cudi. Ventura said she tried to keep her relationship with Mescudi a secret from Combs by purchasing a second cellphone. 'Whoooaaa! A burner phone!' Agnifilo said, his voice jumping up an octave. 'Cassie is keeping it gangsta!' He said Ventura 'played' both Combs and Mescudi, implying she would not have had a secret relationship if she was actually 'scared to death of Sean Combs.' Addressing the kidnapping allegations against Combs, which pertain to his racketeering charge, Agnifilo referenced former assistant Capricorn Clark's claim that she was held for five days in a Manhattan office building, forced to take a lie detector test about stolen jewelry. 'A door-to-door kidnap,' Agnifilo said mockingly, emphasizing that Clark slept at home, and that one of Combs' security guards drove her to and from the building each day. 'You guys are here for long hours,' he told the jury. 'Anyone here feel kidnapped?' Agnifilo's tone was incredulous: 'He's charged with kidnapping. That's real!' And he told the jurors they 'have the right' to question the government's claims and disregard witness testimony. The lawyer picked apart the allegations of bribery, witness tampering and obstruction — and focused heavily on the implication that Combs orchestrated an act of arson on Mescudi's car. (Combs had allegedly said previously that he was going to blow up the vehicle, but an investigation at the time found no evidence leading to Combs.) 'That's not his style,' Agnifilo said, suggesting that Combs would prefer a man-to-man confrontation with Mescudi — 'a good old-fashioned John Wayne, eight-in-the-morning Hollywood Hills fight.' Throughout the closing argument, Combs nodded and listened intently, either leaning back in his chair or crossing his arms on the table. In the morning, one of his sons, Justin Combs, was wearing a shirt that read 'Free Sean Combs,' which is not permitted in the courtroom. A court marshal approached him, and Justin left and re-entered the room without the message visible. Agnifilo was theatrical in his summation — and often used sarcasm to drive home his arguments. He used a mocking tone when describing the raids on Combs' properties, saying they made America 'safe from Astroglide.' 'Way to go fellas, you guys just do you. They took Astroglide and baby oil and that is the evidence in this case,' he said. When pooh-poohing the drug distribution racketeering charges, Agnifilo admitted 'there's no question' Combs 'had a drug problem,' but that his drugs were for personal use only, and not part of a criminal enterprise. That when his staff picked up and delivered drugs like Xanax and ecstacy to Combs, they were not aware they were committing crimes — they were just carrying out personal assistant duties as is common in the entertainment industry. 'I don't suppose we'll see Beyoncé at CVS,' Agnifilo said. Addressing the racketeering charges, the attorney said there is a 'gaping lack of evidence,' and with respect to the transportation to engage in prostitution charges, he repeated the defense's stance that Combs paid male escorts for their 'time,' not for sex. Wrapping things up, Agnifilo leveled with the jury. 'It takes a lot of courage to acquit,' he said. He said the concept of a jury is one of the great things about America, and that it is a difficult thing for a juror to rule against the federal prosecutors. 'You guys are the United States of America,' he said, raising his voice. 'You should feel bold, you should feel the courage that you will need to call this as you see it, and I am asking you to summon that courage and to do what needs to be done and to do the right thing.' He asked the jurors to acquit his client on all charges. 'He sits there innocent. Return him to his family who have been waiting for him.' Beginning her rebuttal, which is the last time the jurors will hear from the attorneys after seven grueling weeks of trial, prosecutor Maurene Comey sighed: 'We're almost done.' Comey delivered her most fiery remarks yet, taking the baton after fellow prosecutor Christy Slavik delivered a five-hour closing argument on Thursday. She laid into the defense, saying the notion that the male escorts were not paid for sex 'doesn't even pass the laugh test.' When Combs handed them wads of cash at the end of 'freak-offs,' it wasn't for their 'scintillating conversation,' Comey said. She referred to an escort's testimony that supported her argument. Despite what the defense posited, the escorts did not need to label themselves as prostitutes for their conduct to be considered prostitution. Supporting the racketeering charge, Comey listed a handful of alleged crimes carried out by Combs' employees on his behalf. 'This is a guy who cannot get his own water bottle or plug in his own phone charger,' she said, implying that of course he would not commit his own crimes. 'He's the general. Not a foot soldier, not a lieutenant. He delegated. And his inner circle did the dirty work for him,' Comey added, pointing to his chief of staff Kristina Khorram as his primary alleged co-conspirator. With respect to the drug distribution charges, Comey said, 'There is no requirement that drugs be distributed for profit or in large quantities to be illegal.' In other words, Combs handing ecstacy pills to Ventura and Jane would still be considered distribution under the law. The tone of her rebuttal intensified as Comey addressed the defense's underlying argument: that Ventura, another rape accuser 'Mia' and Jane are 'lying.' She explored each alleged victim's incentives to commit perjury. Ventura already won a $20 million settlement against Combs, so there's no money grab there. Mia similarly already settled with Combs, and because she isn't seeking fame or attention, she testified under a pseudonym. And Jane, who never sued Combs and has no plans to, testified that the defendant continues to pay her rent and legal fees. For that reason, if she had any incentive to lie, it would be in favor of Combs, Comey argued. Since opening arguments back in May, the defense has painted Combs' accusers as 'strong' women with agency. 'You know what, they're right about that,' Comey said. 'They were strong enough to survive what the defendant put them through and testify at this trial.' Comey returned to what she called 'the most clear-cut example of sex trafficking in this case,' when, in June 2024, Combs allegedly violently attacked Jane before giving her drugs and arranging a 'freak-off' with a male escort. 'Is this coercion?' Combs allegedly said to Jane, mocking the federal investigation looming over him. The trial reached an explosive climax as Comey rested her rebuttal. 'For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom,' she said. 'The defendant is not a god. He is a person. And in this courtroom, he stands equal before the law. Overwhelming evidence proves his guilt. It is time to hold him accountable. Find him guilty.' The jury could make its decision as early as next of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: Defense concludes closing argument in sex trafficking case, says he's a ‘swinger,' not a criminal
The defense delivered its closing argument in the sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Friday, arguing the 55-year-old hip-hop mogul is a 'swinger' and a drug abuser guilty of past domestic violence, but not the 'leader of a criminal enterprise' as prosecutors portrayed him. 'He did not do the things he's charged with,' Marc Agnifilo, Combs's lead defense attorney, told jurors. 'He did what he did. But he's going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn't do.' Agnifilo scoffed at the government's investigation into Combs, who federal prosecutors say abused, threatened and coerced women to participate in drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called 'freak offs' with male escorts while he watched. 'They are swingers,' Agnifilo said. 'This is their lifestyle.' He pushed back against the allegations that Combs used 'power, violence and fear,' along with kidnapping and arson, to conceal his crimes. Agnifilo attacked the testimony of Cassie Ventura, Combs's former girlfriend, who told the court that he repeatedly beat her and forced her to take part in the 'freak offs.' Agnifilo said their decade-long relationship was 'complicated,' but argued it was also 'a great modern love story.' Combs is facing five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Judge Arun Subramanian said he will give the jury instructions on Monday before the 12-member panel begins its deliberations. Follow the live blog below for the latest updates culled from various reporters and news organizations in the courtroom, including the New York Times, CNN, NBC News, and the Washington Post. As Marc Agnifilo started to wrap up the defense team's closing speech, he told the jury he hoped he had proved the government had "targeted" Combs in this case. "It takes a lot of courage to acquit," Agnifilo said. "You should feel bold, you should feel the courage that you will need to call this as you see it, and I am asking you to summon that courage and to do what needs to be done and to do the right thing." 'He sits there innocent," the defense attorney continued. "Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him.' Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed the jury for a 15-minute break, during which he said it was "improper" that Agnifilo argued to the jury that the government "targeted" Combs. Subramanian said he was going to emphasize to the jury, when they returned, that their focus should be on whether the prosecution actually proved each charge with evidence. Agnifilo spoke for 4 hours and 3 minutes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik's closing arguments yesterday lasted 4 hours and 49 minutes. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that Combs was paying for escorts' time, not for sex. Agnifilo referenced how the prosecution called on two men who participated in "freak offs" with Combs and Cassie Ventura to testify, and neither of them formally identified themselves as a prostitute. "There's no evidence that there was negotiation of sex for money," Agnifilo said. The witnesses did testify earlier on in the trial that they were paid in cash after sexual encounters with Ventura. But Agnifilo pointed out that one of the witnesses, Daniel Phillip, who testified he got paid $6,000 for having sex with Ventura in front of Combs, also said, "I didn't care if I was paid one way or another. ... I didn't ask to get paid, they gave that to me." Christian Combs, a rapper known as King Combs and the 27-year-old son of King Combs, collaborated with Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, on a collection of new songs that dropped today. One of the songs on the seven-track "Never Stop" EP is called "Diddy Free," which features a chorus with the lyrics, 'Ain't goin' sleep 'till we see Diddy free.' The song is credited to King Combs and Ye, who is also listed as the executive producer. Ye's oldest child, North West, is also featured on the EP. Christian Combs was in court Friday to support his father. Ye made an appearance at the courthouse earlier this month. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo has begun to discuss "Jane," the woman who testified under the pseudonym and dated Combs from 2021 to 2024. Agnifilo argued Jane did love Combs but, unlike Cassie Ventura, was more focused on what she could get out of the relationship and post on social media. Agnifilo suggested she "really likes the trappings" of fame. Jane testified that Combs started to pay her rent in 2023 — and still does — which the prosecution described yesterday as financial coercion to get Jane to participate in "hotel nights," which is what she called "freak offs" or sexual encounters with male escorts, typically in hotel rooms. Agnifilo argued to the jury that Combs paying her rent was a "gesture of kindness and decency." He also pointed to a hotel night in September 2023 when Jane rejected an escort who had been hired, but the escort was still paid $1,000. 'The government said they're not saying every single 'hotel night' was sex trafficking," Agnifilo said. "Well then, which ones were? And how's Sean Combs supposed to know the difference?' Resuming his closing argument after lunch, Combs's attorney Marc Agnifilo described the videos Combs recorded of male escorts having sex with his girlfriends during "freak offs" as "homemade porn." "He's not the only man in America making homemade porn," Agnifilo said. Prosecutors say Combs used videos as blackmail, threatening to release the footage if he didn't get what he wanted from the women. "There is no way on this earth' his client would ever release them, Agnifilo said. Agnifilo also argued that the drug-fueled marathon sex encounters were not as sinister as the government made them out to be. "There is a nice quality to these evenings," he said. The court is back in session. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said he anticipates he has another hour left of his closing arguments. After he's finished, prosecutor Maurene Comey will share her rebuttal, which she says will take about 90 minutes. Judge Arun Subramanian told the court he will give the jury instructions before they start deliberating next week instead of this afternoon. The courtroom is taking a break for lunch. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo will continue his closing argument around 1:45 p.m. ET. The defense is trying to establish a different narrative for the security video showing Combs assaulting Cassie Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in March 2016. The prosecution argued that this video footage showcases Combs hurting Ventura in the hotel hallway because she left a "freak off" and he wanted her back in the room. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo showed the video to the jury and pointed out that Combs grabs a phone from Ventura. Agnifilo argued that the fight was not over sex but because of the phone. (Agnifilo did not show any of the later security footage where Combs becomes violent with Ventura after taking the phone.) The defense has argued throughout the trial that Combs had taken a bad batch of drugs before this incident. "He stays in a towel in a public hallway way too long," Agnifilo pointed out, suggesting Combs was not in the right headspace. Agnifilo then argued that once Combs got the phone, Ventura later did come back to the hotel room because it "was not a scary place." He also referenced a sexual text exchange the couple had before they met at the hotel that day. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo recounted the relationship between Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie Ventura, again arguing that Ventura is not a victim. "They are swingers," Agnifilo said about the couple. He went on to say that the "sex trafficking" charge would apply if Combs had made money off of selling Ventura into prostitution but argued that it didn't happen. 'Your likes and their likes become one,' Agnifilo continued, referring to Ventura's involvement in "freak offs." "That's actually what love is, and that's what's going on with Cassie.' "She is not clutching her pearls," he added as he read the jury some sexually explicit messages Ventura sent Combs. 'There was nothing that would say to him this was against her will." Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said his client "obviously has a drug problem," but pushed back on the prosecution's argument that Combs intended to distribute and sell the drugs. "Distribution as part of a racketeering conspiracy, and there is no evidence of that," Agnifilo argued. "This is personal-use drugs." Resuming his closing argument, Combs's lawyer Marc Agnifilo moved on to addressing allegations from "Mia," a former assistant who testified under a pseudonym. She described a harrowing and 'toxic' work environment dominated by Combs's 'unpredictable and terrifying' behavior, telling the court that he physically and sexually assaulted her multiple times. Agnifilo argued that the sex was consensual. 'There was not any unwanted sexual contact between Mr. Combs and Mia,' Agnifilo said. Agnifilo also denied the prosecution's assertion that Mia was a victim of "forced labor." "Mia loved working with Sean Combs; she loved the work she did," Agnifilo argued. "Forced labor is when you want to be out of there as soon as possible.' The defense displayed a photo Mia posted on social media showing her smiling along with several of Combs's employees. "This is your racketeering enterprise, folks,' Agnifilo said sarcastically. During the break when jurors were out of the room, lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told Judge Arun Subramanian that the prosecution thought the defense's arguments were too sarcastic about the government's charges against Combs. "Respectfully, I think I'm allowed to be sarcastic," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said. In response to the prosecution's complaint, Judge Subramanian told Agnifilo not to question or speculate why the government was pursuing its charges against Combs, calling the situation "grossly improper." When jurors returned to the courtroom, the judge reminded the group, "I will be instructing you on the law in this case." Judge Arun Subramanian is back on the bench after the court took a break. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo spoke for around 94 minutes before the break. The defense said its closing argument should be around three hours long. Judge Arun Subramanian has called for a 15-minute midmorning break. The defense will continue with its closing argument when court resumes. After mentioning Capricorn Clark's testimony claims that she was kidnapped by Combs and taken to rapper Kid Cudi's house at gunpoint in December 2011, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo addressed the prosecution's allegations that Combs was behind Kid Cudi's Porsche catching on fire in early 2012. Kid Cudi testified that his Porsche was set on fire with a Molotov cocktail after Combs learned that he and Cassie Ventura were dating. Prosecutor Christy Slavik reminded the jury of Kid Cudi's testimony about the Porsche yesterday and said, "Of course, the defendant was behind this." Agnifilo argued that the small DNA profile that was found on the Molotov cocktail bottle was "consistent with a female." 'There is no evidence that he had anything to do with the Porsche,' he said. Marc Agnifilo, Combs's lead defense lawyer, started to comb through some of the prosecution's key witnesses and their testimonies, reminding the jury members that they are allowed to question or disregard testimonies if they don't trust them. Agnifilo brought up Capricorn Clark, whom the prosecution argued had been a victim of being kidnapped by Combs twice while working as his personal assistant. The first alleged experience was in 2004, after Clark had started working for Combs. Clark testified she had to undergo five days of lie detector tests to prove she hadn't stolen jewelry and was repeatedly told by the test administrator that if she was caught lying, "they're going to throw you in the East River." But Agnifilo emphasized that Clark testified she went home after the lie detector tests every day. "It's not a kidnapping," he said, before pointing out that the jurors had spent hours watching the trial for the last seven weeks. "Anyone feel kidnapped?" The second alleged incident was in 2011. Clark testified that Combs came to her home with a gun and brought her to Kid Cudi's house, but Agnifilo emphasized that Kid Cudi testified Clark did not mention any guns when she called him and Cassie Ventura that day. 'Had Capricorn said 'gun,' Cudi would've remembered 'gun.' You're not gonna forget 'gun,'' Agnifilo argued. He also reiterated his earlier point that Clark, like most of Combs's employees, loved working for him and would willingly do anything for him. 'If he asked her to take a trip to the moon, she'd go, and he knows that. He doesn't need a gun." Moments after conceding his client was "guilty" of assaulting Cassie Ventura, Combs's lawyer Marc Agnifilo called Ventura a "gangster" for using a burner phone to contact Kid Cudi while she was seeing both men. 'Cassie's keeping it gangster!' Agnifilo said. "She played them both.' During her relationship with Kid Cudi, Ventura repeatedly lied to Combs, Agnifilo said, arguing that it showed she was "not afraid of him." Marc Agnifilo, Combs's defense attorney, used part of his closing argument to mock the raids on Combs's homes. In its indictment, the prosecut said that federal agents recovered guns, drugs and 'more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.' 'Boxes of Astroglide, taken off the streets, whoo! I feel better already,' Agnifilo said. 'Thank goodness for the special response team," he added. "They found the Astroglide, they found the baby oil, they found like five valium pills. Way to go, fellas.' Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued to the jury that Cassie Ventura is not part of a "one-sided, oppressive" relationship with Combs, as the prosecution argued, but ultimately the financial "winner" of the breakup. "She is sitting somewhere in the world with $30 million," Agnifilo said. Ventura won a $20 million civil settlement from Combs after filing a lawsuit against him in November 2023, and is expecting a $10 million settlement from the owner of the InterContinental hotel where she was assaulted by Combs in 2016. Agnifilo called Combs and Ventura's relationship 'a great modern love story,' and said that this case isn't about crime. "We're here because of money," he said. In his closing argument, Marc Agnifilo acknowledged that Combs is "guilty" of domestic violence, but that's not what he's been charged with. Multiple women, including Combs's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, testified that he beat them repeatedly. And a key piece of evidence for prosecutors was a surveillance video that showed Combs assaulting Ventura in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel. "We own the domestic violence — I hope you guys know that," Agnifilo said. 'It happened. That's not charged. 'He did not do the things he's charged with,' Agnifilo said. 'He didn't commit racketeering — he just didn't.' The lawyer added: 'He did what he did. But he's going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn't do.' As Marc Agnifilo started to wrap up the defense team's closing speech, he told the jury he hoped he had proved the government had "targeted" Combs in this case. "It takes a lot of courage to acquit," Agnifilo said. "You should feel bold, you should feel the courage that you will need to call this as you see it, and I am asking you to summon that courage and to do what needs to be done and to do the right thing." 'He sits there innocent," the defense attorney continued. "Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him.' Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed the jury for a 15-minute break, during which he said it was "improper" that Agnifilo argued to the jury that the government "targeted" Combs. Subramanian said he was going to emphasize to the jury, when they returned, that their focus should be on whether the prosecution actually proved each charge with evidence. Agnifilo spoke for 4 hours and 3 minutes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik's closing arguments yesterday lasted 4 hours and 49 minutes. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that Combs was paying for escorts' time, not for sex. Agnifilo referenced how the prosecution called on two men who participated in "freak offs" with Combs and Cassie Ventura to testify, and neither of them formally identified themselves as a prostitute. "There's no evidence that there was negotiation of sex for money," Agnifilo said. The witnesses did testify earlier on in the trial that they were paid in cash after sexual encounters with Ventura. But Agnifilo pointed out that one of the witnesses, Daniel Phillip, who testified he got paid $6,000 for having sex with Ventura in front of Combs, also said, "I didn't care if I was paid one way or another. ... I didn't ask to get paid, they gave that to me." Christian Combs, a rapper known as King Combs and the 27-year-old son of King Combs, collaborated with Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, on a collection of new songs that dropped today. One of the songs on the seven-track "Never Stop" EP is called "Diddy Free," which features a chorus with the lyrics, 'Ain't goin' sleep 'till we see Diddy free.' The song is credited to King Combs and Ye, who is also listed as the executive producer. Ye's oldest child, North West, is also featured on the EP. Christian Combs was in court Friday to support his father. Ye made an appearance at the courthouse earlier this month. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo has begun to discuss "Jane," the woman who testified under the pseudonym and dated Combs from 2021 to 2024. Agnifilo argued Jane did love Combs but, unlike Cassie Ventura, was more focused on what she could get out of the relationship and post on social media. Agnifilo suggested she "really likes the trappings" of fame. Jane testified that Combs started to pay her rent in 2023 — and still does — which the prosecution described yesterday as financial coercion to get Jane to participate in "hotel nights," which is what she called "freak offs" or sexual encounters with male escorts, typically in hotel rooms. Agnifilo argued to the jury that Combs paying her rent was a "gesture of kindness and decency." He also pointed to a hotel night in September 2023 when Jane rejected an escort who had been hired, but the escort was still paid $1,000. 'The government said they're not saying every single 'hotel night' was sex trafficking," Agnifilo said. "Well then, which ones were? And how's Sean Combs supposed to know the difference?' Resuming his closing argument after lunch, Combs's attorney Marc Agnifilo described the videos Combs recorded of male escorts having sex with his girlfriends during "freak offs" as "homemade porn." "He's not the only man in America making homemade porn," Agnifilo said. Prosecutors say Combs used videos as blackmail, threatening to release the footage if he didn't get what he wanted from the women. "There is no way on this earth' his client would ever release them, Agnifilo said. Agnifilo also argued that the drug-fueled marathon sex encounters were not as sinister as the government made them out to be. "There is a nice quality to these evenings," he said. The court is back in session. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said he anticipates he has another hour left of his closing arguments. After he's finished, prosecutor Maurene Comey will share her rebuttal, which she says will take about 90 minutes. Judge Arun Subramanian told the court he will give the jury instructions before they start deliberating next week instead of this afternoon. The courtroom is taking a break for lunch. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo will continue his closing argument around 1:45 p.m. ET. The defense is trying to establish a different narrative for the security video showing Combs assaulting Cassie Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in March 2016. The prosecution argued that this video footage showcases Combs hurting Ventura in the hotel hallway because she left a "freak off" and he wanted her back in the room. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo showed the video to the jury and pointed out that Combs grabs a phone from Ventura. Agnifilo argued that the fight was not over sex but because of the phone. (Agnifilo did not show any of the later security footage where Combs becomes violent with Ventura after taking the phone.) The defense has argued throughout the trial that Combs had taken a bad batch of drugs before this incident. "He stays in a towel in a public hallway way too long," Agnifilo pointed out, suggesting Combs was not in the right headspace. Agnifilo then argued that once Combs got the phone, Ventura later did come back to the hotel room because it "was not a scary place." He also referenced a sexual text exchange the couple had before they met at the hotel that day. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo recounted the relationship between Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie Ventura, again arguing that Ventura is not a victim. "They are swingers," Agnifilo said about the couple. He went on to say that the "sex trafficking" charge would apply if Combs had made money off of selling Ventura into prostitution but argued that it didn't happen. 'Your likes and their likes become one,' Agnifilo continued, referring to Ventura's involvement in "freak offs." "That's actually what love is, and that's what's going on with Cassie.' "She is not clutching her pearls," he added as he read the jury some sexually explicit messages Ventura sent Combs. 'There was nothing that would say to him this was against her will." Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said his client "obviously has a drug problem," but pushed back on the prosecution's argument that Combs intended to distribute and sell the drugs. "Distribution as part of a racketeering conspiracy, and there is no evidence of that," Agnifilo argued. "This is personal-use drugs." Resuming his closing argument, Combs's lawyer Marc Agnifilo moved on to addressing allegations from "Mia," a former assistant who testified under a pseudonym. She described a harrowing and 'toxic' work environment dominated by Combs's 'unpredictable and terrifying' behavior, telling the court that he physically and sexually assaulted her multiple times. Agnifilo argued that the sex was consensual. 'There was not any unwanted sexual contact between Mr. Combs and Mia,' Agnifilo said. Agnifilo also denied the prosecution's assertion that Mia was a victim of "forced labor." "Mia loved working with Sean Combs; she loved the work she did," Agnifilo argued. "Forced labor is when you want to be out of there as soon as possible.' The defense displayed a photo Mia posted on social media showing her smiling along with several of Combs's employees. "This is your racketeering enterprise, folks,' Agnifilo said sarcastically. During the break when jurors were out of the room, lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told Judge Arun Subramanian that the prosecution thought the defense's arguments were too sarcastic about the government's charges against Combs. "Respectfully, I think I'm allowed to be sarcastic," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said. In response to the prosecution's complaint, Judge Subramanian told Agnifilo not to question or speculate why the government was pursuing its charges against Combs, calling the situation "grossly improper." When jurors returned to the courtroom, the judge reminded the group, "I will be instructing you on the law in this case." Judge Arun Subramanian is back on the bench after the court took a break. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo spoke for around 94 minutes before the break. The defense said its closing argument should be around three hours long. Judge Arun Subramanian has called for a 15-minute midmorning break. The defense will continue with its closing argument when court resumes. After mentioning Capricorn Clark's testimony claims that she was kidnapped by Combs and taken to rapper Kid Cudi's house at gunpoint in December 2011, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo addressed the prosecution's allegations that Combs was behind Kid Cudi's Porsche catching on fire in early 2012. Kid Cudi testified that his Porsche was set on fire with a Molotov cocktail after Combs learned that he and Cassie Ventura were dating. Prosecutor Christy Slavik reminded the jury of Kid Cudi's testimony about the Porsche yesterday and said, "Of course, the defendant was behind this." Agnifilo argued that the small DNA profile that was found on the Molotov cocktail bottle was "consistent with a female." 'There is no evidence that he had anything to do with the Porsche,' he said. Marc Agnifilo, Combs's lead defense lawyer, started to comb through some of the prosecution's key witnesses and their testimonies, reminding the jury members that they are allowed to question or disregard testimonies if they don't trust them. Agnifilo brought up Capricorn Clark, whom the prosecution argued had been a victim of being kidnapped by Combs twice while working as his personal assistant. The first alleged experience was in 2004, after Clark had started working for Combs. Clark testified she had to undergo five days of lie detector tests to prove she hadn't stolen jewelry and was repeatedly told by the test administrator that if she was caught lying, "they're going to throw you in the East River." But Agnifilo emphasized that Clark testified she went home after the lie detector tests every day. "It's not a kidnapping," he said, before pointing out that the jurors had spent hours watching the trial for the last seven weeks. "Anyone feel kidnapped?" The second alleged incident was in 2011. Clark testified that Combs came to her home with a gun and brought her to Kid Cudi's house, but Agnifilo emphasized that Kid Cudi testified Clark did not mention any guns when she called him and Cassie Ventura that day. 'Had Capricorn said 'gun,' Cudi would've remembered 'gun.' You're not gonna forget 'gun,'' Agnifilo argued. He also reiterated his earlier point that Clark, like most of Combs's employees, loved working for him and would willingly do anything for him. 'If he asked her to take a trip to the moon, she'd go, and he knows that. He doesn't need a gun." Moments after conceding his client was "guilty" of assaulting Cassie Ventura, Combs's lawyer Marc Agnifilo called Ventura a "gangster" for using a burner phone to contact Kid Cudi while she was seeing both men. 'Cassie's keeping it gangster!' Agnifilo said. "She played them both.' During her relationship with Kid Cudi, Ventura repeatedly lied to Combs, Agnifilo said, arguing that it showed she was "not afraid of him." Marc Agnifilo, Combs's defense attorney, used part of his closing argument to mock the raids on Combs's homes. In its indictment, the prosecut said that federal agents recovered guns, drugs and 'more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.' 'Boxes of Astroglide, taken off the streets, whoo! I feel better already,' Agnifilo said. 'Thank goodness for the special response team," he added. "They found the Astroglide, they found the baby oil, they found like five valium pills. Way to go, fellas.' Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued to the jury that Cassie Ventura is not part of a "one-sided, oppressive" relationship with Combs, as the prosecution argued, but ultimately the financial "winner" of the breakup. "She is sitting somewhere in the world with $30 million," Agnifilo said. Ventura won a $20 million civil settlement from Combs after filing a lawsuit against him in November 2023, and is expecting a $10 million settlement from the owner of the InterContinental hotel where she was assaulted by Combs in 2016. Agnifilo called Combs and Ventura's relationship 'a great modern love story,' and said that this case isn't about crime. "We're here because of money," he said. In his closing argument, Marc Agnifilo acknowledged that Combs is "guilty" of domestic violence, but that's not what he's been charged with. Multiple women, including Combs's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, testified that he beat them repeatedly. And a key piece of evidence for prosecutors was a surveillance video that showed Combs assaulting Ventura in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel. "We own the domestic violence — I hope you guys know that," Agnifilo said. 'It happened. That's not charged. 'He did not do the things he's charged with,' Agnifilo said. 'He didn't commit racketeering — he just didn't.' The lawyer added: 'He did what he did. But he's going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn't do.'
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Canadian firefighter says he was denied entry to U.S.: 'Good enough to fight their wars but not good enough to cross their borders'
A B.C. firefighter says he was denied entry into the United States, where he was going to take part in a competition for First Responders from different countries around the world. Jamie Flynn posted on social media on Thursday to detail what happened to him when he was en route to Birmingham, Alabama. He said he was supposed to represent Vancouver firefighters in the Jiu Jitsu category at the World Police & Fire Games. He described the games as an 'international event uniting frontline responders through sport,' in a post on Instagram. 'Being denied entry to the United States is deeply upsetting,' he told National Post in an emailed statement on Friday. 'I lost my flights, my time away, and my opportunity to compete at the World Police & Fire Games in Alabama — an event I had trained extensively for.' Flynn said he is a British citizen living in Canada as a permanent resident. He is a firefighter in Vancouver and volunteers with Squamish Search and Rescue. He has served in the British Parachute Regiment (SFSG) and has also served alongside U.S. forces under Joint Special Operations Command. 'I operated under U.S. command, wore the American uniform, and fought under the American flag. I've always felt a strong bond with the United States,' he told National Post. 'I have no criminal record and no known issues that would justify this denial.' In his post on Instagram, he said he trained for the competition in the U.S. for months. 'And still, I'm grounded — sidelined not by injury or lack of effort, but by bureaucracy and silence,' he wrote. Flynn intended to fly to Alabama from Vancouver International Airport on Wednesday. He never made his flight because his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had expired and would not be renewed, Global News reported. He said he received an update on the ESTA app that said, 'Travel not authorized.' ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is valid for two years, or until a passport expires, and allows for multiple entries. If a traveller receives a 'travel not authorized' response to their application, CBP says online that they can look into applying for a visa if they still wish to enter the country. The denial only prohibits travel under the Visa Waiver Program and does not determine eligibility for a visa, per the agency. Canadian citizens travelling with a Canadian passport do not need to apply for an ESTA. Flynn said that he did not receive an explanation from anyone at the U.S. border, the U.S. consulate or the ESTA program. 'This feels like a clerical error,' he said, and, he added, it's cost him thousands of dollars. 'I'm gutted. I'm angry. And I want answers.' He ended the post with the line: 'We were good enough to fight their wars — but not good enough to cross their borders.' Flynn told National Post that he is looking forward to being able to visit the U.S. again in the near future. He has since submitted a visa application. Unfortunately, he said, the earliest available appointment is Feb. 11, 2027. University of Toronto law professor and Rebecca Cook Chair in Human Rights Law Audrey Macklin said her advice for travellers going to the U.S. is to avoid it altogether 'unless absolutely necessary.' 'Even at the best of times, states often treat non-citizens arbitrarily, and do not feel obliged to explain their actions,' she told National Post over email. 'This is sometimes justified on the ground that non-citizens do not have a right to enter, and therefore have no standing to complain about how a decision to admit or exclude is made. Since the rule of law is in free fall in the United States at the moment, the arbitrariness is more extreme, more coercive, and more frequent. That is why travellers should avoid the United States if they can.' U.S. Customs and Border Protection Public Affairs Officer Jessica Turner said in an emailed statement to National Post that 'CBP cannot comment on specifics regarding travellers' ESTA denials.' 'U.S. Embassies and Consulates are not able to provide details about ESTA denials or resolve the issue that caused the ESTA denial,' she said. 'Embassies and Consulates will process an application for a non-immigrant visa, which, if approved, will be the only way that a traveler whose ESTA application has been denied would be authorized to travel to the U.S.' U.S. deports 70-year-old man after he 'violently' kicked a customs dog at an airport U.S. man drives into Canada by mistake, gets busted with 78 pounds of pot on the way back Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
