Witness: Yasin Binda

Yasin Binda’s Testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Trial: Day 5 Highlights On May 16, 2025, during Day 5 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, Special Agent Yasin Binda of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) testified at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York. Binda, an investigator in HSI’s human trafficking division, provided detailed evidence from the search of Combs’ hotel room following his arrest on September 16, 2024, at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Her testimony aimed to support the prosecution’s claim that Combs operated a criminal enterprise involving sex trafficking and coercion, particularly through drug-fueled 'freak-offs.' Binda’s testimony followed Ventura’s emotional four-day account and preceded Dawn Richard’s allegations of witnessing Combs’ violence. Background and Role in the Trial Yasin Binda, a seasoned HSI special agent specializing in human trafficking and crisis negotiation, was called as a prosecution witness to present physical evidence gathered during Combs’ arrest. She played a key role in coordinating the logistics of the arrest and led the subsequent search of Combs’ hotel room, Room 2115 at the Park Hyatt. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Smyser, used Binda’s findings to link Combs to the alleged 'freak-offs'—elaborate, drug-fueled sexual performances central to the charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Binda’s testimony followed Ventura’s account of being coerced into these encounters, often involving drugs like ketamine and MDMA, and items like baby oil and lubricant, which Ventura said Combs required to keep her skin 'glistening.' Binda’s evidence aimed to corroborate these claims by showing Combs’ possession of similar items at the time of his arrest. Key Points of Yasin Binda’s Testimony 1. Logistics of Combs’ Arrest Binda began her testimony by detailing her involvement in Combs’ arrest on September 16, 2024. She confirmed that Combs had traveled to New York expecting to negotiate a surrender but was arrested in the hotel lobby. Binda coordinated the arrest logistics and immediately led the search of his hotel room. She testified that the operation was swift to preserve evidence, given the high-profile nature of the case and the potential for tampering. Her role in human trafficking investigations gave her a unique perspective on the types of evidence—such as drugs and sex-related items—that might indicate coercive activities, aligning with the prosecution’s allegations against Combs. 2. Discovery of Drugs and Aliases A significant portion of Binda’s testimony focused on the drugs found in Combs’ hotel room, which prosecutors tied to the alleged 'freak-offs.' In the bedroom, Binda found a Louis Vuitton bag on a nightstand containing a bottle of clonazepam—a benzodiazepine used for anxiety and seizures—prescribed under the alias 'Frank Black.' Ventura had previously testified that Combs often used pseudonyms like 'Frank Black' or 'Frank White' to check into hotels for these encounters, a detail Binda’s findings corroborated. Additionally, Binda discovered two glassine bags with pink powder inside another medication bottle on the nightstand. Testing confirmed the powder contained ketamine and MDMA (ecstasy), drugs Ventura claimed Combs used to incapacitate her during 'freak-offs.' Binda presented these items to the jury, showing the evidence bags and explaining the substances’ significance in the context of coercion. 3. Sex-Related Supplies and 'Freak-Off' Evidence Binda’s testimony also highlighted items that prosecutors linked directly to the 'freak-offs.' She presented photos of the expansive Park Hyatt room, showing Ziploc bags filled with Johnson’s baby oil and Astroglide lubricant found in an entryway closet. More bottles were discovered in the bathroom, with five bottles of baby oil specifically noted as standing together on the bathtub floor. Binda testified that these were not the only bottles found, echoing the earlier HSI raid on Combs’ homes in March 2024, which uncovered over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. Ventura had testified that Combs required these items during 'freak-offs' to maintain a specific aesthetic, and their presence in such quantities supported the prosecution’s claim of systematic preparation for these events. Binda also showed a photo of a lighting device in the living room, describing it as 'potentially mood lighting,' which Ventura had mentioned as a common setup for these encounters. 4. Cash Discovery Binda testified about finding $9,000 in cash inside a black fanny pack hanging off the bed. At Smyser’s request, she cut open an evidence bag, extracted the cash, and fanned it out for the jury to see. The prosecution suggested that the large sum of cash could indicate Combs’ intent to use it for illicit purposes, such as paying for sex workers or bribing hotel staff, as alleged in the indictment. For example, Ventura had testified that Combs paid $100,000 to hotel security for 2016 footage of him assaulting her, an act prosecutors cited as evidence of obstruction of justice. While the cash itself isn’t illegal, its presence in the context of drugs and sex-related items bolstered the prosecution’s narrative of a calculated operation. 5. Cross-Examination by the Defense During cross-examination, defense attorney Teny Geragos sought to downplay the significance of Binda’s findings. Geragos asked if it appeared a woman was staying with Combs in the hotel room before his arrest, to which Binda confirmed there were signs of a female presence, such as women’s clothing. The defense used this to suggest that Combs’ activities might have been consensual, aligning with their broader argument that his relationships involved a swinger lifestyle, not criminal coercion. Geragos also questioned the relevance of the items found, implying that baby oil, lubricant, and cash are not inherently illegal and could be part of a celebrity’s personal life. However, Binda’s testimony about the drugs, particularly under an alias, and the sheer quantity of 'freak-off' supplies made it challenging to fully disconnect these findings from the allegations. Legal and Trial Context Binda’s testimony followed Ventura’s four-day account of abuse and preceded Dawn Richard’s allegations of witnessing Combs’ violence toward Ventura. The prosecution used Binda’s findings to provide physical evidence of the environment in which the alleged 'freak-offs' occurred, supporting Ventura’s claims of coercion through drugs and intimidation. The defense, led by Marc Agnifilo, continued to argue that these items reflected Combs’ unconventional but consensual lifestyle, not a criminal enterprise. Posts on X from May 16 reflected public interest in Binda’s testimony, with some users noting the 'juicy' details of the hotel search, though these sentiments are inconclusive. Implications and Next Steps Binda’s testimony strengthened the prosecution’s case by providing tangible evidence of drugs, sex-related supplies, and cash that aligned with Ventura’s descriptions of the 'freak-offs.' The use of an alias and the presence of ketamine and MDMA supported claims of drug-fueled coercion, a cornerstone of the sex trafficking charges. However, the defense’s cross-examination highlighted the lack of direct evidence tying these items to specific criminal acts, leaving room for the jury to question their significance. As the trial progresses, upcoming testimony from witnesses like Kid Cudi and a male hotel employee will likely further explore the allegations of coercion and control central to the case.

Compiled from news sources and summarized by Grok.

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