Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been formally charged with sex crimes in the Dominican Republic for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
The young player was charged with sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and human trafficking, charges that reportedly carry a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years.
It was previously reported that an anonymous tip provided to authorities in July 2023 ultimately sparked the investigation into Franco. The anonymous person said they had seen a media post suggesting Franco may have been having a relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
“The investigation remains ongoing and we will continue to monitor this case closely.”
The 23-year-old shortstop has been placed on administrative leave — a deal agreed between MLB and the Players Association that keeps him off the field but keeps him paid — as the league wanted to keep Franco out of the spotlight to see if charges would be filed.
At the end of his leave of absence, the Rays reportedly asked MLB to place Franco on the restricted list because he had failed to report to the team: Franco’s bail conditions required him to remain in the Dominican Republic, which meant he was unable to report to a major league team.
The request was granted as charges were formally filed. ESPN It will be reported, and the player will not receive salary or service time.
Authorities have spent more than six months building their case since it was first reported that Franco abducted an underage girl from his Puerto Plata home in late 2022 and that the girl’s mother had consented to the ongoing relationship.
As previously reported by The Blaze News, the roughly 600 pages of documents obtained by journalists in early 2024 stated that the relationship began when Franco was 21 and the girl was 14. The shortstop is also accused of paying the girl’s mother $1,700 a month for seven months and giving her a new car.
According to the documents, which quoted the underage girl, the car was intended as a way for her mother to “authorize the relationship and allow her to travel with him wherever she wished.”
The mother’s home was searched in September 2023, and authorities found 800,000 Dominican pesos ($13,700) and $68,500 hidden behind picture frames. Another seizure turned up $36,000 in the form of local bank guarantees allegedly linked to payments from Franco.
The mother was charged with money laundering.
In a statement, MLB said it was “aware of the allegations against Mr. Franco.” “The investigation is ongoing and we continue to closely monitor developments in this case.”
ESPN reported it was able to contact Franco’s US-based lawyer, who confirmed he had received the indictment but declined to comment.
Franco was just two years into his 11-year, $182 million contract but was named an All-Star in 2023.
A preliminary hearing in his case is reportedly scheduled for August 14, 2024.
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