Wander Franco Arrested tonight

[BMR Genie]

Franco has been charged with commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN Deportes reports.

Franco had initially been arrested Monday for failing to appear at a summons last week and now these new charges have officially been revealed. According to Recio, Franco will be under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country. The 22-year-old will be presented for the first time before a judge on Friday.

Why with money laundering?

 

[jjgold]

No idea but they’re going after him for some reason

 

[BMR Genie]

No idea but they’re going after him for some reason

I just looked it up, looks like he allegedly tried to pay the minor's mom, that's why. I'm just curious why they use the term/charge of "money laundering". I thought money laundering was only to conceal the origin of their illicit funds.

 

[jjgold]

Whatever case his MLB career is over

 

[BMR Genie]

Whatever case his MLB career is over

This is the only clear conclusion.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Whatever case his MLB career is over

Yep no doubt JJ

But he'll eventually play in another country and make lots of money

 

[sharpsquare]

Yep no doubt JJ

But he'll eventually play in another country and make lots of money

I sure hope not. hopefully, they throw him and the momma in a DR prison and they never make it out. but you prob right money talks there and he prob finds a way to buy his way out.

 

[Wagerallsports]

I sure hope not. hopefully, they throw him and the momma in a DR prison and they never make it out. but you prob right money talks there and he prob finds a way to buy his way out.

I'm glad that this blackmail attempt has backfired on the mother too

 

[sharpsquare]

I'm glad that this blackmail attempt has backfired on the mother too

right, what a fkn scumbag. what kind of person pimps out their own kid

throw em both in the same hole

 

[jjgold]

He seems like a real lowlife the more you read about him. Tampa Bay doesn’t need him they’re loaded.

 

[wags2riches]

I'm glad that this blackmail attempt has backfired on the mother too

Couldn't agree more.

 

[BMR Genie]

Josh Giddey Will Not Face Charges for Alleged Relationship With Minor

Similar situation but a different outcome. Guess, because the mom of the minor did not ask for money and no evidence on socmed posted.

 

[209life]

Facing 30 years

Wander Franco trial: Rays star faces sexual abuse, human trafficking charges in Dominican Republic​

MARTÍN ADAMES
Updated Mon, June 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM PDT
4 min read

FILE - Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco attends his trial on charges of sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez, File)
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco went to trial Monday, June 2 in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl.
Now 24, Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12 but was postponed until June.
Here's what to know about the trial:

What are the charges against Wander Franco?

Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. After an investigation that lasted over a year, judge Pascual Valenzuela of the northern province of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, ruled in September of 2024 that the evidence presented by prosecutors was worthy of the case moving to trial.

Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge in July of 2024 and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos or $17,000 to the mother of the minor on Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse. The mother of the minor has been charged with money laundering and was under house arrest.

Prosecutors say that the minor’s mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco. During raids on the house of the minor’s mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco.

“I heard all they said, but I wanted to say that justice must be done,” Franco told the judges on the first day. He has otherwise refused to speak to the media.

Why was Franco's trial postponed?

Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the trial in December at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco needed to report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.

What could be his sentence if found guilty?

If convicted, Franco could face up to 30 years in prison.

Is Franco being held in jail?

Franco has been free on supervised release, although he had been required to make monthly control visits to the judge.

He was also arrested and granted another supervised release in November for illegally carrying a gun in his vehicle. The arrest followed an argument in an apartment complex parking lot. Another man and a woman also were detained in the confrontation. Two firearms were seized, police said. Dominican judge Viamerca Ruiz said Franco needs to report to court once a month while he is being investigated for carrying the firearm that was registered under his uncle’s name. One of Franco's lawyers said because the gun has a license, “there's nothing illegal about it.”

A conviction for illegally possessing a firearm could prompt a three- to five-year prison sentence.

Is Franco still being paid?

No, but he was for nearly a year after Dominican authorities opened their probe.

Franco, who signed a $182 million, 11-year contract with the Rays in 2021, was briefly placed on the restricted list and then administrative leave in August 2023 when Dominican authorities opened their investigation. Because administrative leave is not disciplinary under the sport's joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, Franco was paid during that time.

Technically, there is no leave during the offseason, and Franco was again placed on administrative leave at the start of the 2024 season until prosecutors filed the current charges on July 10. At that time, MLB placed Franco — who had a $2 million salary in 2024 — on its restricted list, cutting off the pay he had been receiving under administrative leave.

He had been receiving 50% of his salary on administrative leave, a person familiar with his situation told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because that detail had not been disclosed publicly. When he was placed on the restricted list, his pay was adjusted to $1,118,280, or salary for 104 days of the 186-day season.

MLB is likely to wait until the Dominican trial is concluded before deciding whether there will be any discipline.

 

[BMR Genie]

Facing 30 years

Wander Franco trial: Rays star faces sexual abuse, human trafficking charges in Dominican Republic​

MARTÍN ADAMES
Updated Mon, June 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM PDT
4 min read

FILE - Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco attends his trial on charges of sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez, File)
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco went to trial Monday, June 2 in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl.
Now 24, Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12 but was postponed until June.
Here's what to know about the trial:

What are the charges against Wander Franco?

Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. After an investigation that lasted over a year, judge Pascual Valenzuela of the northern province of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, ruled in September of 2024 that the evidence presented by prosecutors was worthy of the case moving to trial.

Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge in July of 2024 and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos or $17,000 to the mother of the minor on Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse. The mother of the minor has been charged with money laundering and was under house arrest.

Prosecutors say that the minor’s mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco. During raids on the house of the minor’s mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco.

“I heard all they said, but I wanted to say that justice must be done,” Franco told the judges on the first day. He has otherwise refused to speak to the media.

Why was Franco's trial postponed?

Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the trial in December at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco needed to report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.

What could be his sentence if found guilty?

If convicted, Franco could face up to 30 years in prison.

Is Franco being held in jail?

Franco has been free on supervised release, although he had been required to make monthly control visits to the judge.

He was also arrested and granted another supervised release in November for illegally carrying a gun in his vehicle. The arrest followed an argument in an apartment complex parking lot. Another man and a woman also were detained in the confrontation. Two firearms were seized, police said. Dominican judge Viamerca Ruiz said Franco needs to report to court once a month while he is being investigated for carrying the firearm that was registered under his uncle’s name. One of Franco's lawyers said because the gun has a license, “there's nothing illegal about it.”

A conviction for illegally possessing a firearm could prompt a three- to five-year prison sentence.

Is Franco still being paid?

No, but he was for nearly a year after Dominican authorities opened their probe.

Franco, who signed a $182 million, 11-year contract with the Rays in 2021, was briefly placed on the restricted list and then administrative leave in August 2023 when Dominican authorities opened their investigation. Because administrative leave is not disciplinary under the sport's joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, Franco was paid during that time.

Technically, there is no leave during the offseason, and Franco was again placed on administrative leave at the start of the 2024 season until prosecutors filed the current charges on July 10. At that time, MLB placed Franco — who had a $2 million salary in 2024 — on its restricted list, cutting off the pay he had been receiving under administrative leave.

He had been receiving 50% of his salary on administrative leave, a person familiar with his situation told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because that detail had not been disclosed publicly. When he was placed on the restricted list, his pay was adjusted to $1,118,280, or salary for 104 days of the 186-day season.

MLB is likely to wait until the Dominican trial is concluded before deciding whether there will be any discipline.

Dam! Looks like there's no escape on this.

Was it the state that stood as the complainant in this case?

 

[Wagerallsports]

Still hard to believe

What an amazing talent going to waste

Losing him really set the TB Rays back