Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott files lawsuit, accusing a Fort Worth woman of $100M extortion

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott filed a lawsuit in Collin County on Monday against a woman who allegedly is trying to extort $100 million from him to settle a claim for sexual assault from 2017.

Prescott is asking for $10 million in damages for pain and suffering and mental anguish.

The case was filed in Collin County, Texas, against a Fort Worth woman and her attorneys, Bethel T. Zehaie and Yoel T. Zehaie.

Prescott denied the claim in a text to the Star-Telegram on Monday.

“She is trying to get $100 million from me to ‘not report’ a rape case I obviously did not do,” Prescott said in the text.

His attorney Levi McCarthern issued a statement.

“Recently, Mr. Prescott found himself the subject of an extortion plot,” McCathern said. “The Defendant and her legal team have threatened to go public with a completely fabricated story of sexual assault from nearly a decade ago, and demanded that Mr. Prescott immediately pay $100 Million in exchange for her not pressing false charges with the authorities.

“Mr. Prescott — a new father to a baby girl — has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault. He fervently believes that all perpetrators of such crimes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. To be clear, Mr. Prescott has never engaged in any nonconsensual, sexual conduct with anyone. Lies hurt. Especially, malicious lies. We will not allow the Defendant and her legal team to profit from this attempt to extort millions from Mr. Prescott.”

Prescott filed an 11-page lawsuit based on a letter he received on January 16, 2024, alleging that he sexually assaulted the Fort Worth woman in February 2017.

“... has had to live with this pain and trauma for 7 years,” the letter read. “It affected her relationship with her fiancé and her everyday existence so much that she had to attend therapy and counseling and will require future therapy and counseling. She has suffered mental anguish that is unimaginable dealing with the trauma of being a sexual assault of victim. Despite the tragic events, she is willing to forego pursuing criminal charges, along with disclosing this information to the public, in exchange for compensating her for the mental anguish she has suffered. ... damages are valued at the sum of $100,000,000.00. You have until February 16, 2024, to respond to this demand letter.”

The letter stated “she is willing to forego pursuing criminal charges, along with disclosing this information to the public, in exchange for compensating her for the mental anguish she has suffered. ... damages are valued at the sum of $100,000,000.00.”

Prescott’s lawsuit alleges that the defendants have engaged in a conspiracy to extort, defame, disparage, and tortiously interfere with his existing and prospective contracts seven years after the alleged incident with full knowledge of his impending negotiations of a new deal.

McCarthen said Prescott has reported the matter to the “appropriate authorities” and “will continue to cooperate fully in their investigation.”

Prescott has committed to donating any and all recovery obtained as a result of this lawsuit to the Joyful Heart Foundation, whose vision is a world free of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.