Witness: Sharay Hayes

Sharay 'The Punisher' Hayes’ Testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Trial: Day 7 Highlights On May 20, 2025, during Day 7 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, exotic dancer Sharay 'The Punisher' Hayes testified at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York. Hayes, a 51-year-old former male escort from Harlem, provided detailed accounts of his involvement in alleged 'freak-offs' with Combs and his then-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, offering insights into the dynamics of their interactions. His testimony, which spanned the late morning and early afternoon, aimed to support the prosecution’s narrative of Combs orchestrating coercive sexual encounters, though Hayes’ observations also provided material for the defense to challenge Ventura’s claims of coercion. Background and Role in the Trial Sharay Hayes, professionally known as 'The Punisher,' a nickname earned from his aggressive teenage basketball days on West 4th Street courts, worked as an exotic dancer from 1995 to 2016 and now partners at Hunkomania, an exotic dance company. He advertised his services on Getpunished.com, targeting Black and Latin women for intimate events. Hayes was called as a prosecution witness to corroborate Ventura’s earlier testimony about being coerced into 'freak-offs'—prolonged, drug-fueled sexual encounters involving male sex workers, allegedly orchestrated by Combs. Ventura had identified Hayes as one of over a dozen male escorts involved in these events between 2007 and 2018, often in cities like New York, Miami, and Las Vegas. Hayes’ testimony focused on his encounters with the couple from 2012 to 2016, providing a firsthand account of the activities and dynamics during these sessions. His testimony followed that of Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura, and preceded Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Gerard Gannon on May 20. Key Points of Sharay Hayes’ Testimony 1. First Encounter at Trump Tower in 2012 Hayes began his testimony by describing his initial meeting with Combs and Ventura in late 2012 at the Trump International Hotel on Central Park West in New York City. He was contacted by a woman using the alias 'Janet,' later identified as Ventura, who claimed it was her birthday and that her 'husband' had allowed her to hire a dancer. Hayes, expecting to perform for a group of women, arrived at the hotel suite and was greeted by Ventura, who wore a bathrobe with nothing underneath and a wig. She handed him a 'sack of money' containing $800 and instructed him to create a 'sexy scene' involving mutual application of baby oil while her partner watched. Hayes was explicitly told not to acknowledge or look at the man in the room, who he later learned was Combs. Hayes testified that the man, initially wearing a veil covering his face—described as similar to a Muslim niqab, revealing only his eyes—sat naked in the corner, watching and masturbating as Hayes and Ventura applied baby oil to each other. After about 30 minutes, Ventura and the man left the room. Ventura returned alone, asking Hayes if he wanted to 'finish,' which he declined. He was paid an additional $1,200 before leaving, totaling $2,000 for the encounter. Hayes didn’t realize the man was Combs until a later encounter at the Essex House hotel, where a TV welcome screen displayed 'The Essex House would like to welcome Mr. Sean Combs.' 2. Subsequent Encounters and Dynamics Hayes testified that he participated in 8 to 12 'freak-offs' with Combs and Ventura from 2012 to 2016, meeting them at luxury hotels like the Trump International and Essex House. Over time, as Combs grew more comfortable, he stopped wearing the veil and switched to a baseball cap, allowing Hayes to recognize him. Hayes eventually identified Ventura through Combs’ Instagram, confirming their identities as a high-profile couple he’d been working with. During these encounters, Combs directed the activities, instructing Hayes and Ventura on where to sit, how to act, and what to do—often involving baby oil application that escalated into sexual acts, primarily oral or penetrative sex between Hayes and Ventura. Hayes noted that they went through a 'considerable amount' of baby oil each time, aligning with Ventura’s testimony about its use to keep her skin 'glistening.' He observed that Ventura sometimes sighed or winced at Combs’ frequent directions, interpreting this as frustration rather than discomfort. However, he never heard her refuse a direction and said she often looked to Combs for 'consent' during activities, suggesting a dynamic where Combs exerted control. 3. Observations on Consent and Atmosphere A key point of Hayes’ testimony was his perception of Ventura’s participation. When asked by prosecutors if Ventura appeared to be enjoying herself, Hayes responded, 'My understanding was we were creating a scene, a sexy scene, that was enjoyable to her partner.' He added, 'I did not get any cues that there was a discomfort with what was going on,' emphasizing his experience as an exotic dancer in reading a room for client comfort. Hayes also stated he never saw Combs film the encounters or harm Ventura, nor did he witness either of them using drugs, though he was offered alcohol and marijuana, which he declined. He testified that Combs never appeared intoxicated, countering narratives of drug-fueled coercion in these specific encounters. 4. Personal Impact and Final Encounter Hayes shared that the presence of Ventura’s partner created 'discomfort' that affected his performance, leading him to use medications like Cialis or Viagra to maintain an erection under pressure. His final encounter with the couple in 2016 at a hotel ended poorly when he experienced erectile dysfunction, which he attributed to Combs’ aggressive demeanor. Hayes was not called back after this incident. He later documented these experiences in his book, 'In Search of Freezer Meat,' about his struggles with erectile dysfunction, referring to Combs and Ventura as a 'married, wealthy couple.' He admitted to sensationalizing details for entertainment, stating only 6.5 pages of the 182-page book mentioned them, focusing on his anxiety rather than their identities. 5. Cross-Examination by the Defense During cross-examination, defense attorney Xavier Donaldson probed Hayes’ feelings toward Ventura, suggesting he had developed an attachment, as Hayes had told investigators he felt 'special' thinking he was the only man Ventura was with during these encounters. Hayes clarified, 'That might’ve been taken out of context because that’s not true,' denying any emotional attachment. The defense used Hayes’ testimony to argue that Ventura’s participation appeared consensual, highlighting his observations of no overt discomfort, violence, or filming by Combs. Hayes’ statement that he believed the encounters were enjoyable for both Ventura and Combs bolstered the defense’s narrative that these were consensual acts, not coerced events, challenging Ventura’s claims of psychological control and abuse. Legal and Trial Context Hayes’ testimony followed Regina Ventura’s account of her daughter’s abuse and preceded Gerard Gannon’s description of the Miami mansion raid. The prosecution, led by Maurene Comey, used Hayes to illustrate the operational side of the alleged 'freak-offs,' focusing on Combs’ directive role and the use of baby oil, which matched later raid findings of 56 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. However, the defense, led by Marc Agnifilo, leveraged Hayes’ observations of Ventura’s apparent willingness to undermine the coercion narrative central to the sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Posts on X reflected mixed sentiments, with some noting Hayes’ testimony might have helped the defense by framing the encounters as consensual, though these views are not conclusive. Implications and Next Steps Hayes’ testimony provided a mixed impact for the prosecution. While it confirmed the existence of 'freak-offs' and Combs’ controlling role, his perception of Ventura’s engagement and lack of observed violence or drug use gave the defense material to argue consent. This testimony sets the stage for further witnesses, like Scott 'Kid Cudi' Mescudi, expected to address Combs’ alleged jealousy and threats, and a male hotel employee, who may provide additional context on the 'freak-off' environments. As the trial progresses, the jury will need to weigh these conflicting accounts to determine if Combs’ actions constituted a criminal enterprise.

Compiled from news sources and summarized by Grok.

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