Witness: Israel Florez

Israel Florez’s Testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Trial: Day 1 Highlights On May 12, 2025, during Day 1 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, Israel Florez, a Los Angeles police officer and former hotel security guard, testified at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York. Florez, who was working as a security officer at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, in March 2016, provided a firsthand account of a violent altercation between Combs and his then-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, which was captured on hotel surveillance footage. His testimony aimed to support the prosecution’s claim that Combs engaged in a pattern of coercive and violent behavior, central to the charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Background and Role in the Trial Israel Florez, now a Los Angeles Police Department officer, was the assistant security director at the InterContinental Hotel in March 2016 when he responded to a distress call involving Ventura. Before joining the LAPD in 2018, Florez worked for a company providing security to high-rise buildings and hotels and was a U.S. Army reservist for over 15 years. He was called as the prosecution’s first witness to provide direct evidence of Combs’ alleged violence and attempts to obstruct justice, key elements of the racketeering charge. Florez’s testimony followed opening statements, where the prosecution accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise, and preceded that of Daniel Phillip, a male escort who described paid sexual encounters with Ventura. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik, used Florez to set the stage for the 2016 hotel surveillance video, a critical piece of evidence showing Combs assaulting Ventura. Key Points of Israel Florez’s Testimony 1. Responding to the Distress Call Florez began his testimony by recounting the events of March 5, 2016, at the InterContinental Hotel. He told the jury he received a call about a 'woman in distress' on the sixth floor and immediately went to investigate. Upon exiting the elevator, he saw Ventura curled up in a corner of the elevator lobby, covering her face, appearing scared. Florez noted a destroyed flower vase in the hallway, indicating a physical altercation. He described Combs, who was slouched in a chair wearing only a towel and colored socks, giving him a 'devilish, scary look.' Florez testified that Ventura expressed a desire to leave, saying she wanted to retrieve her phone and bag, but Combs told her, 'You’re not going to leave,' which Florez interpreted as an attempt to control her movements. 2. The Surveillance Footage and Florez’s Recordings Florez’s testimony introduced the hotel surveillance footage, which was shown to the jury. The video, first published by CNN in 2024, depicted Combs assaulting Ventura in the hallway—hitting, kicking, dragging her, and throwing a vase at her as she tried to leave. Florez described the footage as it played, pointing out key moments: Ventura putting down a bag, Combs approaching in a towel, slamming her head, and dragging her back to the room. He also noted a clip showing Ventura making the distress call to security, which alerted him to the incident. Florez testified that he recorded additional footage on his personal phone, capturing the hotel security monitor, because he 'didn’t think his wife would believe him' if he told her about the incident. He clarified that he didn’t download the footage from hotel computers due to lack of access, but his cellphone videos—two of which were shown to the jury—provided further evidence of the event. 3. De-escalation Efforts and Observations Florez testified that he escorted Combs and Ventura back to their hotel room to de-escalate the situation, standing in the doorway as they entered. He noticed an unidentified man in dark clothing sitting on the corner of the bed, a detail he mentioned but couldn’t elaborate on due to lack of further context. Florez told the couple that the hallway damages would be added to their hotel bill, aiming to maintain order. He described Combs as initially cordial but noted that Ventura appeared visibly shaken. Florez testified that he urged Ventura to leave if she felt unsafe, but she declined to answer his questions directly, repeatedly stating she just wanted to leave. Eventually, Ventura left the hotel in an SUV with a driver, while Florez returned to the room with the hotel manager to speak with Combs. 4. Alleged Bribe Attempt by Combs A pivotal moment in Florez’s testimony came when he described Combs’ alleged attempt to bribe him. After Ventura left, Florez said Combs called him back to the room, closed the door, and offered a 'stack of cash,' saying, 'Don’t tell nobody.' Florez interpreted this as a bribe, testifying that he '100%' believed Combs was trying to buy his silence about the assault. He rejected the money, stating, 'I don’t want your money,' and noted that Combs also attempted to take the phones of hotel staff, including the manager’s, suspecting he was being recorded. Florez said he pinned Combs to the wall to retrieve the manager’s phone, de-escalating the situation by assuring Combs they weren’t recording him. Prosecutors later noted that Combs paid $100,000 to another security guard for the surveillance footage, a signed agreement barring the guard from speaking, which they cited as evidence of obstruction of justice. 5. Cross-Examination by the Defense During cross-examination, defense attorney Brian Steel, a recent addition to Combs’ legal team known for representing rapper Young Thug, sought to undermine Florez’s credibility. Steel pressed Florez on why his 2016 incident report omitted key details he mentioned in court, such as Ventura’s 'purple eye' (indicating bruising) and Combs’ statement that she couldn’t leave. Florez responded that he didn’t consider these details 'significant' at the time, as the situation was fluid, with Combs and Ventura going 'back and forth.' Steel also questioned Florez’s description of Combs’ 'devilish stare,' asking why it wasn’t in the report, to which Florez replied it was his 'opinion' rather than a factual observation. Steel suggested the cash might have been offered to cover hotel damages, not as a bribe, but Florez firmly maintained his interpretation. Florez confirmed Combs didn’t appear drunk or high and was cooperative when escorted back to the room, a point Steel used to argue Combs wasn’t aggressive toward him. On redirect, prosecutors asked if Florez was required to document every detail in his reports, to which he replied, 'No,' reinforcing that his omissions were not intentional fabrications. Legal and Trial Context Florez’s testimony followed opening statements where the defense, led by Teny Geragos, acknowledged Combs’ domestic violence but argued it didn’t constitute sex trafficking or racketeering. The prosecution used Florez to establish Combs’ identity in the 2016 assault video and highlight his alleged attempts to obstruct justice, supporting the racketeering charge. Florez’s account preceded Daniel Phillip’s testimony about participating in 'freak-offs,' setting the stage for Ventura’s four-day testimony starting May 13. Legal analysts noted Florez’s testimony was crucial for 'storytelling,' helping the jury contextualize the video evidence, though the defense’s cross-examination aimed to cast doubt on his reliability by focusing on report omissions. Implications and Next Steps Florez’s testimony provided a foundational piece of evidence for the prosecution, directly linking Combs to violent behavior and obstruction attempts, aligning with Ventura’s later claims of coercion and abuse. His rejection of the alleged bribe and the subsequent $100,000 payment to another guard underscored Combs’ alleged efforts to silence witnesses, a key element of the racketeering charge. However, the defense’s cross-examination highlighted inconsistencies in Florez’s reporting, potentially raising doubts about his memory or bias. As the trial progresses, upcoming testimony from witnesses like Kid Cudi and a male hotel employee will likely build on Florez’s account, further exploring the allegations of coercion and control central to the case.

Compiled from news sources and summarized by Grok.

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