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(NewsNation) — Two former Mafia members don’t know if the racketeering charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs will stick, but they’re sure about one thing: When they were mobsters, they didn’t beat up women.
Federal prosecutors have accused the music mogul of running a criminal enterprise and using his empire to engage in a pattern of sex trafficking, coercion and other crimes. As part of the case, jurors were shown hotel surveillance video of Diddy beating his then-girlfriend, Casanda “Cassie” Ventura, in 2016.
“Nobody in my former life would ever approve of something like that,” said Michael Franzese, a onetime Colombo crime family captain who served eight years in prison for racketeering and extortion. “We didn’t beat up women, we didn’t do things like that. We were taught to respect women in a big way, especially our families.”
“If somebody like that was in our former life, he wouldn’t last, quite honestly,” he added.
Ex-mobsters surprised Diddy is being tried alone
Franzese appeared on “Banfield” on Wednesday with another former mobster, Anthony Ruggiano, the son of a Gambino crime family captain who also served time for racketeering.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, right, blows kisses to people in the audience during his sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court May 19 in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Former assistant to Sean Combs, David James, testifies on the witness stand during Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Witness Kerry Morgan testifies in Manhattan federal court during the sex trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
CORRECTS NAME SPELLING: Witness Dawn Richard testifies in Manhattan federal court during the sex trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Cassie Ventura, right, walks out of the courtroom past Sean Diddy Combs after testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Cassie Ventura takes an oath before testifying in Manhattan federal court on May 13 in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Sean Diddy’Combs, far left, and attorney Marc Agnifilo, right, sit at the defense table during witness testimony in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Sean Diddy Combs listens during opening statements on the first day of trial in Manhattan federal court May 12 in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Sean Diddy Combs, center, motions a heart sign to his family in attendance as he is escorted out of lock-up by US Marshals, on the first day of trial, Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
TODAY — Pictured: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on Friday, September 15, 2023 — (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images) 
Diddy performs onstage at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards held at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images) 
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 12: Diddy attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by John Nacion/WireImage) 
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 15: Sean “Diddy” Combs attends the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mindy Small/FilmMagic) 
Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs attends the REVOLT Summit on Oct. 25, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
The pair discussed RICO — Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations — cases, more commonly associated with the type of organized crime in which they were involved. Franzese noted the feds have used the RICO statute against a variety of defendants, including white-collar criminals.
Both expressed surprise that Diddy was being tried alone, without alleged co-conspirators.
Diddy could face virtual solitary confinement if convicted: Ex-mobster
If Diddy is convicted, he could face a long stretch in federal prison. Ruggiano said he would face virtual solitary confinement in a “supermax” setting but that he probably could coexist with other inmates in a “regular” prison.
“Maybe mob guys might shun him. I’m sure people might throw innuendos at him. He might have a fight or two, but overall, I think he’s going to do fine in there because of who he is and all his money,” Ruggiano said.
Cassie, Kid Cudi and more testify in Diddy’s trial
Combs’ trial began May 5 with jury selection. On May 12, opening statements started with prosecutors playing the hotel surveillance video obtained by CNN. That video allegedly showed Combs beating Ventura.
Ventura’s testimony has played a significant part in the trial. She testified that Combs’ sex parties, called “Freak Outs,” could last up to four days and detailed the alleged abuse she endured while dating Combs.
Rapper Kid Cudi also testified and told the jury he had dated Ventura for a brief time in 2011. He claimed Ventura had been dating Combs at the same time.
Many of Combs’ former assistants have also testified, including Capricorn Clark. She kicked off the third week of the trial by telling the jury that Combs had threatened her on the first day of the job. Clark worked for Diddy from 2004 to 2012.