MLB star Wander Franco freed amid Dominican sex-abuse probe
Despite the prosecutors’ claims that Franco was a flight risk who had repeatedly ignored court summons and left the country once he learned he was under investigation, the judge allowed him to remain free while the investigation continues.
Franco, who signed a $182 million contract with the Rays in 2021, was required to submit a bond of 2 million Dominican pesos — roughly $34,000 — and present himself periodically to the court.
In documents reviewed by The Washington Post, prosecutors asserted that the mother “handed over her underage daughter in exchange for money” to Franco, and then had him continue paying her to keep silent about the abuse. The mother of Franco’s alleged victim was also arrested and placed on home confinement by the judge.
The Post does not typically name alleged victims of sexual abuse, and is not naming the girl’s mother to protect the girl’s identity.
Prosecutors filed nearly 600 pages of evidence against Franco and the girl’s mother, detailing allegations that Franco carried on a four-month relationship with the girl, including taking her from her home for two days in December 2022, and that he gave her mother millions of Dominican pesos — equivalent to tens of thousands of American dollars.
In a transcript of previously confidential testimony filed in court, the alleged victim claimed that her mother “sold” her to men and kept money Franco gave her that was intended for the girl. In a summary of another interview, the girl referred to Franco as her “ex-boyfriend” and said that they “repeatedly” had sexual relations. Two other family members of the girl corroborated that she had a relationship with Franco and that he gave her mother money or property, interview transcripts show.
Franco’s stateside attorney, Jay Reisinger, declined to comment.
The records provide the fullest picture yet of a murky, months-long law enforcement investigation that derailed Franco’s career in the middle of last season. Franco, 22, was selected to the American League all-star team for the first time last July. A month later, Major League Baseball placed Franco on paid administrative leave after social media posts suggesting his relationship with the underage girl. The Rays and an MLB spokesman each declined to comment Friday.
Prosecutors cited several alleged examples of money being transferred from Franco and his family to that of his alleged victim. Franco’s mother allegedly made transfers totaling 1 million pesos — just over $17,000 — to the girl’s mother. In addition, the alleged victim’s mother purchased a 2023 Suzuki Swift for more than $26,000, roughly three times her annual salary.
When investigators raided the home of the alleged victim’s mother in September, they found 800,000 in Dominican pesos — or just under $14,000 — in addition to $68,500 in American cash, according to prosecutors, and a bank certificate from Franco worth roughly $36,000.
Franco’s alleged abuse of the girl came to light after she posted online about Franco in July. She was angered, prosecutors said, by her mother taking money from him and not sharing any with her. That month, the girl’s mother filed a complaint alleging that Franco had previously abducted her daughter. Prosecutors claimed that the mother’s complaint was a ruse “to simulate concern, distress, and anger.”
Franco then went on Instagram Live from the Rays’ clubhouse, claimed that it was all an extortion attempt — and hasn’t played with the team since.
Chelsea Janes contributed to this report.
