Patriots’ Stefon Diggs Charged With Strangulation, Denies Claim/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs faces felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault charges after a former private chef accused him of violence during a dispute over unpaid wages. Diggs denies all allegations, calling them baseless and financially motivated. The team and his attorney are standing by him as the case heads to court.
Stefon Diggs Criminal Charge Quick Looks
- Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs charged with strangulation and assault.
- Allegations stem from a dispute with his former private chef.
- Diggs denies all claims, calling them untrue and financially motivated.
- A court arraignment is scheduled for January 23 in Dedham, Massachusetts.
- The woman claims Diggs attacked her during a discussion about money.
- She said he used his elbow to choke her and hit her face.
- Diggs allegedly demanded a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for payment.
- The chef originally hesitated to file charges but later changed her mind.
- Diggs recently signed a $69 million contract with the Patriots.
- His on-field performance has helped lead New England to a playoff berth.
Patriots’ Stefon Diggs Charged With Strangulation, Denies Claim
Deep Look
New England Patriots star wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery, according to police and court documents released this week. The charges stem from an alleged confrontation with a former private chef over a financial dispute, which Diggs has categorically denied.
The case came to light during a court hearing on Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts. Diggs’ attorney, David Meier, issued a firm denial of the accusations, describing them as “unsubstantiated and uncorroborated.” Meier asserted that the situation is rooted in a disgruntled employee’s dissatisfaction over pay, stating, “The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee’s satisfaction.”
The Patriots organization also issued a brief statement supporting the veteran receiver: “We support Stefon.”
According to a police report filed by Officer Kenneth J. Ellis, a woman came to the Dedham Police Department on December 16 and reported that Diggs had assaulted her two weeks earlier. She said that while she was working as his private chef, Diggs entered her bedroom during a disagreement about compensation. The woman told police that Diggs “smacked her across the face” and then tried to choke her with his elbow wrapped around her neck from behind. She said she struggled to breathe and felt she might black out.
After the incident, she claimed Diggs threw her on the bed and accused her of lying when she said she hadn’t been paid. The woman had left her position and returned on December 9 to retrieve her belongings. At that point, Diggs’ assistant told her she would need to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to receive the unpaid wages. She declined.
Initially hesitant to pursue legal action, the woman reportedly changed her mind and asked to file charges last week, according to the police report.
Diggs, 32, is a high-profile NFL star known for his success with the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills, where he posted six straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and earned four Pro Bowl selections. After a lackluster stint in Houston in 2024, he signed a three-year, $69 million free-agent deal with New England, with $26 million guaranteed.
Since joining the Patriots, Diggs has become a reliable weapon for second-year quarterback Drake Maye, contributing significantly to the team’s AFC East division title as they head into the playoffs.
However, this isn’t the first off-field incident to shadow his time in New England. In May, a video circulated online showing Diggs on a boat handing what appeared to be a bag of pink crystals to a group of women. The nature of the substance was never confirmed, and the NFL declined to comment. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said at the time that the matter would be handled internally.
Diggs’ personal life has also garnered media attention, especially after Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B posted photos in recent months of the newborn son she shares with Diggs.
With the arraignment scheduled for January 23, the NFL community is watching closely to see how the legal process unfolds — and how it might impact both Diggs and the Patriots during the playoff run.
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