A court filing ahead of the trial accused Combs of using jailhouse communications to influence witnesses— including requesting authorized-contact family members and defense counsel to add other unauthorized individuals to three-way calls and using other inmates’ phone access codes.

Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Ms. Ventura said she wore a masquerade-style mask and provocative clothing from a “sex store,” and that she and the man took Ecstasy and drank alcohol before they had sex and Mr. Combs watched.