One of the sex workers seen in pictures shared in court by prosecutors was Ash Armand, a former star of the Showtime reality series ‘Gigolos,’ PEOPLE confirms
During the first week of testimony at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex crimes trial at Manhattan federal court, prosecutors showed photos of the male sex workers they claim participated in Combs’ “Freak Off” sex parties — and one of the escorts was a former reality star with a dark past, PEOPLE can confirm.
According to prosecutors, “Freak Offs” are “elaborate and produced sex performances” that the Bad Boy records founder allegedly orchestrated and coerced others, including ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, to participate in. Prosecutors further allege that the “Freak Offs” involved heavy drug use in order to ensure compliance, and that Combs and the women involved would receive IV treatments to recover after.
Ventura’s emotional testimony, which lasted four days, was filled with allegations of physical, sexual, and verbal abuse involving Combs. The singer claimed she was made to participate in the “Freak Offs” with male sex workers. Combs’ defense has aimed to portray the “Freak Offs” as consensual.
PEOPLE confirms that one of the sex workers was Ash Armand, real name Akshaya Kubiak, a former star of the Showtime reality series Gigolos. The controversial show, which ran from 2011 to 2016, chronicled the activities of five male escorts in Las Vegas. But years after the last episode aired, Armand’s life took a dark turn.
Armand is currently serving an 8-to-20-year prison sentence in Nevada after pleading guilty in September 2021 to voluntary manslaughter and mayhem, state prison records show.
The conviction is related to the July 2020 beating death of 29-year-old Herleen Dulai, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. At his sentencing hearing, Armand claimed that he and Dulai had taken psychedelic mushrooms together and that he “blacked out” and had no memory of attacking her, per the outlet.
“I have never hit a woman in my life, and I certainly never wanted to hurt Herleen,” Armand said at his sentencing hearing, according to the outlet.
