DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Good morning, Ms. Ventura.
REGINA VENTURA: Good morning.
MS. JOHNSON: Can you pull a little yourself a little closer to the microphone.
REGINA VENTURA: Kind of. OK.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. What is your occupation?
REGINA VENTURA: I'm retired.
MS. JOHNSON: In what city and state do you live?
REGINA VENTURA: New London, Connecticut.
MS. JOHNSON: Approximately how long have you lived in New London, Connecticut?
REGINA VENTURA: 57 years.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you have any children?
REGINA VENTURA: I do.
MS. JOHNSON: How many children do you have?
REGINA VENTURA: I have two.
MS. JOHNSON: What are their names?
REGINA VENTURA: Rodrick and Casandra.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Foster, can you please pull up what's in evidence and publish to the courtroom Government Exhibit 2A-101.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you see Government Exhibit 2A-101 on the screen in front of you?
REGINA VENTURA: I do.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you recognize who's depicted in that exhibit?
REGINA VENTURA: I do.
MS. JOHNSON: Who is that?
REGINA VENTURA: Sean Combs.
MS. JOHNSON: At a high level, how do you know Sean Combs?
REGINA VENTURA: He dated my daughter.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that your daughter Casandra?
REGINA VENTURA: Casandra.
MS. JOHNSON: And what do you -- how do you refer to Sean Combs?
REGINA VENTURA: Sean Combs.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you call him Sean?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. I'm going to call him Sean during this examination. Will you know who I'm talking about?
REGINA VENTURA: I absolutely will.
MS. JOHNSON: Thank you.
MS. JOHNSON: You can take that photograph down now, Ms. Foster.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, approximately what year did you first meet Sean?
REGINA VENTURA: Approximately 2006.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. What was the occasion on which you first met Sean?
REGINA VENTURA: Casandra was signing to Bad Boy.
MS. JOHNSON: And what was your understanding of Bad Boy?
REGINA VENTURA: It was a record label.
MS. JOHNSON: And what, if any, understanding did you have of Sean's affiliation with Bad Boy?
REGINA VENTURA: He ran Bad Boy.
MS. JOHNSON: When Casandra signed with Bad Boy, what was your understanding of her -- the status of her relationship with Sean at that time?
REGINA VENTURA: He was her boss.
MS. JOHNSON: Did that ever change?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: How did it change?
REGINA VENTURA: They started dating.
MS. JOHNSON: When Casandra and Sean started dating, in what city did they live?
REGINA VENTURA: New York.
MS. JOHNSON: Did that change?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: How did that change?
REGINA VENTURA: They moved to the West Coast.
MS. JOHNSON: And where on the West Coast did they move?
REGINA VENTURA: Los Angeles.
MS. JOHNSON: Once Casandra and Sean started dating, and I want to focus it first on the time period when they were in New York City. How frequently did you see your daughter?
REGINA VENTURA: Probably three to four times a year.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Did the amount of times you saw your daughter change once Casandra moved to Los Angeles?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes. It was harder to get to her, yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Does that mean you saw her less frequently?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes. Probably twice a year.
MS. JOHNSON: Were there occasions every year where you would see Casandra?
REGINA VENTURA: I always saw her at the holidays.
MS. JOHNSON: And by the holidays, do you mean the Christmas holiday in December?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And with respect to Sean, when Casandra was dating Sean and they lived together in -- and they both lived in New York, how frequently did you see Sean during that time period?
REGINA VENTURA: Not very often.
MS. JOHNSON: And did that change when Casandra moved to Los Angeles with Sean?
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, I would like to direct your attention to the time period December 2011. Did Casandra come home to Connecticut for the holidays in December of 2011?
REGINA VENTURA: She did.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Foster, could you please pull up for the courtroom what's in evidence as Government Exhibit B-315.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, directing your attention to Government Exhibit B-315, what is the date of this communication?
REGINA VENTURA: December 23, 2011.
MS. JOHNSON: And who sends this communication?
REGINA VENTURA: Casandra.
MS. JOHNSON: Through what e-mail address?
REGINA VENTURA: Vbang2011@yahoo.com.
MS. JOHNSON: Is the Veronica Bang e-mail address an address that you knew to be associated with Casandra?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. And who receives this e-mail?
REGINA VENTURA: I did, and Capricorn Clark.
MS. JOHNSON: And is the e-mail address associated with mom new e-mail your e-mail address?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Could you please read the communication that Casandra sent to you?
REGINA VENTURA: The threats that have been made towards me by Sean Puffy Combs are that he is going to release two explicit sex tapes of me. One on Christmas Day, maybe before or right after and another one some time soon after. He has also said that he will be having someone hurt me and Scott Mescudi physically (he made a point that it wouldn't be by his hands, he actually said he'd be out of the country when it happened).
MS. JOHNSON: A couple followup questions for you, Ms. Ventura. Without telling me anything else that was happening around this same time in December of 2011, how did you react when you received this e-mail?
REGINA VENTURA: I was physically sick. I did not understand a lot of it. The sex tapes threw me. I did not know the other person in it, but I knew that he was going to try to hurt my daughter.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you say you knew he was trying to hurt your daughter, who is the "he" that you're talking about?
REGINA VENTURA: Sean Combs.
MS. JOHNSON: And what else, if anything, happened related to Sean Combs and Casandra's relationship at or around the same time you received this e-mail?
REGINA VENTURA: It was understood that he was going to need $20,000 to recoup money that he had spent on her because he was angry that she had a relationship with Scott Mescudi.
MS. JOHNSON: And who was to provide the $20,000?
REGINA VENTURA: Again, I'm sorry?
MS. JOHNSON: Who was providing the $20,000 that Sean was requesting?
REGINA VENTURA: We were. My husband and myself.
MS. JOHNSON: So let me ask you a few questions about that. How did you obtain $20,000 at the end of December 2011?
REGINA VENTURA: We had taken a home equity loan and decided to -- that's the only way we could get the money. So we took it out of there and transferred it to our checking.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. And at what bank was your home equity loan?
REGINA VENTURA: Charter Oak Federal Credit Union.
MS. JOHNSON: And, again, what was your understanding of why you had to send $20,000 to Sean?
REGINA VENTURA: He was angry. He had spent money on her and she had been with another person.
MS. JOHNSON: And how did you know where to send the $20,000?
REGINA VENTURA: His bookkeeper e-mailed me the wiring information.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say he, who are you referring to, his bookkeeper?
REGINA VENTURA: Oh, his bookkeeper. I don't know if it was a he or a she.
MS. JOHNSON: I'm sorry. It was a bad question. When I said -- when you said his bookkeeper, whose bookkeeper are you referring to?
REGINA VENTURA: Sean Combs' bookkeeper.
MS. JOHNSON: When you received wiring instructions, what did you do with them?
REGINA VENTURA: I went to Charter Oak Federal Credit Union and we wired the money to the account indicated in the e-mail.
MS. JOHNSON: And whose account sent the money to the account indicated in the e-mail?
REGINA VENTURA: Our checking account sent the money to the Bad Boy account that was indicated in the e-mail.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you say "our," who does our checking account refer to?
REGINA VENTURA: My husband and myself.
MS. JOHNSON: What else, if anything, happened a few days after you sent the $20,000 to the account, to the account that was indicated in the e-mail?
REGINA VENTURA: Well, the money came back.
MS. JOHNSON: Approximately how many days later did the money come back?
REGINA VENTURA: About four, four to five days.
MS. JOHNSON: What, if any, communications did you have with Sean about the money returning?
REGINA VENTURA: None.
MS. JOHNSON: And you mentioned that the wiring instructions came to you over e-mail. Do you remember that?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes, I do.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you have a copy of that e-mail?
REGINA VENTURA: I do not.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, just to be clear, why did you go to the bank and take out a $20,000 loan?
REGINA VENTURA: I was scared for my daughter's safety.
MS. JOHNSON: What did you need the $20,000 for?
REGINA VENTURA: To pay Sean Combs.
MS. JOHNSON: Why did you need to pay Sean Combs $20,000?
REGINA VENTURA: Because he demanded it.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Ms. Ventura, I'm going to -- Do you see that there is a binder on ledge next to you, the black binder?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: I have one for you.
MS. JOHNSON: Can you please look through that binder and let me know in you recognize what's inside?
REGINA VENTURA: The first folder or the whole binder?
MS. JOHNSON: The whole binder. We will get to the folder in a moment.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you recognize the photographs that are marked Government Exhibit 3Q-106 through 3Q-115?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes, I do.
MS. JOHNSON: What is depicted in those photographs?
REGINA VENTURA: Casandra is depicted in all the photographs.
MS. JOHNSON: And when were those photographs taken?
REGINA VENTURA: Christmas Eve Day 2011.
MS. JOHNSON: Who took the photos?
REGINA VENTURA: I did.
MS. JOHNSON: And what device did you use to take these photographs?
REGINA VENTURA: I had a Kodak digital camera.
MS. JOHNSON: Are the photographs that are stamped Government Exhibit 3Q-106 through 3Q-115 true and accurate photographs of Casandra in December of 2011?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes, they are.
MS. JOHNSON: The government offers at this time Government Exhibit 3Q-106, 3Q-107, 3Q-108, 3Q-110, 3Q-113, 3Q-114, and 3Q-115.
MR. AGNIFILO: No objection, Judge.
THE COURT: Those exhibits will be admitted.
(Government's Exhibits 3Q-106, 3Q-107, 3Q-108, 3Q-110, 3Q-113, 3Q-114, and 3Q-115 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Foster, can you please pull up side by side Government Exhibit 3Q-106 and 3Q-109, which is already in evidence.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, why did you take these photos of Casandra in December 2011?
REGINA VENTURA: Because she was bruised and I wanted to make sure that we memorialized it.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. What, if anything, did Casandra tell you about the source of the bruising?
REGINA VENTURA: That she was beaten by Sean Combs.
MS. JOHNSON: And directing your attention to Casandra's hairstyle in this photograph, approximately what years did she wear her hair in this particular style?
REGINA VENTURA: Oh, she -- she shaved her head in, I believe, 2009.
MS. JOHNSON: And how long did she keep her head shaved after 2009?
REGINA VENTURA: I would say four or five years. I can't really recall.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Ms. Foster, can you take those two down and put up side by side Government Exhibit 3Q-113 and 3Q-115.
MS. JOHNSON: Where is Casandra in these photographs, Ms. Ventura?
REGINA VENTURA: In her bedroom.
MS. JOHNSON: And is that her bedroom in your home in Connecticut?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes, it is.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. You can take those down, Ms. Foster.
MS. JOHNSON: Was December 2011 the first time Casandra told you about Sean being physical with her?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Prior to that time, when, if ever, had you discussed this topic with your daughter?
REGINA VENTURA: I read what I remember to be a blind item or an item that mentioned her name about being beat up in a car. And I called her and she told me it was not her or him.
MS. JOHNSON: And was that prior to December 2011?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Can you explain what a blind item is?
REGINA VENTURA: I think they are on -- I have -- I think they are on blogs or whatever, and they just talk about celebrities without telling their name.
MS. JOHNSON: And after Christmas 2011, who else, if anyone, came to your home for the holidays that year?
REGINA VENTURA: After Christmas, Scott Mescudi came to my home.
MS. JOHNSON: And how long did he stay?
REGINA VENTURA: Three or four days. I cannot recall.
MS. JOHNSON: So directing your attention after the holidays in 2011, when was the next time you saw Casandra?
REGINA VENTURA: I believe it was in February, I just don't know the exact date. But they came to the Foxwoods Casino for some opening.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say "they," who is they?
REGINA VENTURA: I'm sorry. Sean Combs and Casandra.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you see Casandra again in 2012?
REGINA VENTURA: I did. In April we flew out to Los Angeles, Rod and myself.
MS. JOHNSON: Who is Rod?
REGINA VENTURA: My husband.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, I'm going to ask you to look at the folder, the manila folder that was inside of the black binder now.
REGINA VENTURA: Um-hmm.
MS. JOHNSON: I'm going to give a copy to counsel.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, without telling me the name of the individual depicted, do you recognize who is in that photograph that's marked Government Exhibit 2A-404?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes. Oh, yes.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. I'm going to call that individual Mia and I'm going to ask that you do the same.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you know Mia?
REGINA VENTURA: I do.
MS. JOHNSON: How do you know Mia?
REGINA VENTURA: She was an employee of Sean Combs and a friend to Cassie.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. In April 2012, were you present for an interaction between Sean and Mia?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Where were you?
REGINA VENTURA: In his kitchen.
MS. JOHNSON: And can you describe what happened?
REGINA VENTURA: We were just standing around talking very casually, laughing, and she was laughing. And then all of a sudden, he didn't want her to, I guess. And he asked her what she was laughing at, and she shrugged and she went pale and she looked very shaken and afraid and disappeared.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you say "she," are you referring to Mia?
REGINA VENTURA: I am.
MS. JOHNSON: So I would like to direct your attention now to August of 2016. We're done with the binder and the folder.
REGINA VENTURA: I have to move this chair. Hold on. It's a very heavy chair.
THE COURT: We can provide some assistance here. We'll try to move the mic, also.
REGINA VENTURA: OK. Thank you.
COURT CLERK: You're welcome.
REGINA VENTURA: Thank you.
THE COURT: No problem.
REGINA VENTURA: I'm ready.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Just for one moment, turning back to the incident in April 2012 that you described. When you said he in that incident, are you referring to Sean Combs?
REGINA VENTURA: I am.
MS. JOHNSON: Now directing your attention to August of 2016. Did you travel to Los Angeles in that month and year?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes, we did.
MS. JOHNSON: What was the occasion?
REGINA VENTURA: Casandra's 30th birthday.
MS. JOHNSON: While you were in L.A., did there come a time when you called the police?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes, I did.
MS. JOHNSON: So I want to start earlier in that day before you called the police. What happened earlier that day?
REGINA VENTURA: Cassie, Casandra, was out with Sean and he stole her phone.
MS. JOHNSON: How do you know that?
REGINA VENTURA: Because she came and told me.
MS. JOHNSON: What did you do?
REGINA VENTURA: I called the police.
MS. JOHNSON: What, if any, interactions did you have with Sean that same day that Casandra's phone was stolen?
REGINA VENTURA: We had a bitter argument outside her apartment building.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Foster, can you please pull up Government Exhibit 2B-107 in evidence.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize the building depicted in Government Exhibit 2B-107?
REGINA VENTURA: I do.
MS. JOHNSON: What is that?
REGINA VENTURA: That's where Casandra lived on the 17th floor.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that the building you referred to having an argument with Sean in front of?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Which side of the building did Casandra live on?
REGINA VENTURA: The side that you can see.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Where did you have the argument with Sean?
REGINA VENTURA: Like, down in the roundabout.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that visible on this exhibit?
REGINA VENTURA: Well, the driveway -- the driveway is.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Besides Sean and yourself, was anyone else present for this argument?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Who?
REGINA VENTURA: D-Roc. Damion Butler.
MS. JOHNSON: Can you please take this down, Ms. Foster, and pull up Government Exhibit 2A-202.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize this individual?
REGINA VENTURA: I do.
MS. JOHNSON: Who is that?
REGINA VENTURA: That's D-Roc.
MS. JOHNSON: And I believe you also called him Damion Butler?
REGINA VENTURA: Damion Butler.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that his government name?
REGINA VENTURA: I think it's his government name. I didn't get everybody's government name.
MS. JOHNSON: Understood.
MS. JOHNSON: You can take that down now, Ms. Foster
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, can you describe the argument that you had with Sean outside of Casandra's apartment building in August of 2016?
REGINA VENTURA: We were arguing about the phone. I wanted the phone back and he was holding it.
MS. JOHNSON: And where -- how were you and Sean positioned?
REGINA VENTURA: Damion was between us.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. What, if anything, did you do during this argument?
REGINA VENTURA: I was yelling, screaming, and trying to hit him.
MS. JOHNSON: Trying to what?
REGINA VENTURA: Hit him.
MS. JOHNSON: Were you successful in hitting him?
MS. JOHNSON: And when you say him --
REGINA VENTURA: Sean Combs.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Let me just finish my question. Were you trying to hit Sean Combs?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Where was Casandra during this argument?
REGINA VENTURA: Up in her apartment.
MS. JOHNSON: What, if anything, did Sean say about Casandra's phone during the argument?
REGINA VENTURA: I almost cannot recall, but he did give it back.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say it, are you talking about the phone?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes, I am.
MS. JOHNSON: And who did Sean give the phone back to you?
MS. JOHNSON: And after the phone was returned, what happened next?
REGINA VENTURA: He took her car.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say he, who?
REGINA VENTURA: Sean Combs took her car.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you say her, who is her?
REGINA VENTURA: Casandra.
MS. JOHNSON: How do you know that the car was taken?
REGINA VENTURA: Because I watched it leave.
MS. JOHNSON: What kind of car was it?
REGINA VENTURA: A Jaguar.
MS. JOHNSON: Before you left Los Angeles on that trip, did you celebrate Casandra's 30th birthday?
REGINA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Was Sean present for that celebration?
REGINA VENTURA: He was not.
MS. JOHNSON: One moment, your Honor. No further questions at this time.
THE COURT: Cross-examination.
MR. AGNIFILO: Good afternoon, Ms. Ventura.
REGINA VENTURA: Good afternoon.
MR. AGNIFILO: I don't have any questions for you. Thank you.
THE COURT: All right. Thank you very much.
REGINA VENTURA: Thank you very much.
(Witness excused)
THE COURT: Who is the government's next witness, and should we start with that witness or do that after the lunch break?
MS. FOSTER: The government's next witness is Sharay Hayes. We can do either.
THE COURT: All right. Let's government can call its next witness.
MS. FOSTER: The government calls Sharay Hayes. He's going to be here in just one moment, I was just informed.
THE COURT: OK. Ms. Comey, maybe someone from your team can check to see the status of the witness.
MS. COMEY: I'd be happy to go check, your Honor.
MS. JOHNSON: Your Honor, I also just realized we can put in some evidence at this time, if that works for the court.
THE COURT: Sure. Let's make use of the time. I hear one side say that, we're going to have the witness emerge from the doors. But let's see what we can do.
MS. JOHNSON: The government would offer Government Exhibit 4G-151 pursuant to the stipulation at Government Exhibit 1304, paragraph eight.
THE COURT: Any objection?
MR. AGNIFILO: No, your Honor. Thank you.
THE COURT: All right. That exhibit will be admitted.
(Government's Exhibit 4G-151 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Foster, could you please pull that up and display page 264. It's Government Exhibit 4G-151.
THE COURT: 141?
MS. JOHNSON: 151.
THE COURT: So 4G-151.
MS. JOHNSON: Yes, 4G-151. We can publish that later, your Honor.
THE COURT: OK.
MR. AGNIFILO: Just checking on ... Never mind.
THE COURT: Mr. Agnifilo, check on it and let me know if there is any issues.
MR. AGNIFILO: Will do.
COURT CLERK: Please remain standing and raise your right hand. SHARAY DASHAWN HAYES, called as a witness by the Government, having been duly sworn, testified as follows: You may be seated. Thank you.