The 'drug mule' emerges
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Brendan Paul, the 26-year-old former Syracuse University basketball player and Sean "Diddy" Combs associate who made headlines when he was arrested on drug charges last year, is scheduled to testify about his experience working for the rapper.
On June 17, Paul arrived in Manhattan federal court suited and ready to cooperate with prosecutors. My colleague Josh Meyer met Paul and his attorney, Brian Bieber, at the courthouse and reported back: "(Paul) was visibly nervous, dressed in a jacket and tie. His hands were sweaty and clammy when his lawyer introduced us."
In the courtroom, Paul invoked his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination and received immunity for his testimony. He's expected to take the stand June 18. After taking a holiday for Juneteenth, prosecutors plan to rest their case on Friday, June 20.
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Who is 'drug mule' Brendan Paul?
On the afternoon of March 25, 2024 – the same day Combs' homes were raided in Miami and Los Angeles – Paul was arrested by local police at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.
Per an arrest affidavit we'd obtained at the time, Florida prosecutors leveled two felony charges of possession of a controlled substance against him, alleging he'd packed cocaine and marijuana-laced candy in his luggage. This was significant because a month earlier, music producer and Combs collaborator Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones Jr. mentioned Paul in his civil lawsuit against Combs, alleging sexual assault and harassment.
"Brendan Paul: Works as Mr. Combs Mule," Jones' lawsuit said, adding two photos of Paul and Combs for reference. Jones claimed that Paul allegedly "procured, transported and distributed" drugs including ecstasy, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, marijuana and mushrooms. Jones also said Paul would acquire and distribute guns for Combs and "negotiate the fees the sex workers received and would ensure that the workers are paid" on Combs' behalf.
On Dec. 17, prosecutors declined to proceed with the one outstanding charge of cocaine possession, and the case was closed. Paul had "completed a pre-trial diversion course sometimes offered for first-time offenders," his attorney told us at the time.
As it turns out, this wasn't the last we would be hearing of the former Syracuse guard. Stay tuned tomorrow for what he ends up sharing as the latest of Combs' former assistants to take the stand.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and Spanish via chat and at 800-656-4673.
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