Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic charged Rays shortstop Wander Franco on Wednesday with commercial prostitution and money laundering after allegations that he had a relationship with a minor, while his mother was charged with those charges.
Prosecutors asked the judge to set Franco’s bail at $86,000, barring him from leaving the Dominican Republic and putting him behind bars. They said the embezzlement charges stemmed from allegations that Franco paid money to the child’s mother.
The judge also asked the judge to ban the child’s mother from leaving the country and put her in jail.
In this story are allegations that Tampa Bay shortstop Wander Franco paid off the mother of an underaged girl with whom Franco had a relationship. Additionally, @Martinrodriv reported, citing law enforcement documents, that the girl was 14 at the time. https://t.co/5yU8zywHDZ
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 4, 2024
On Wednesday, lawyers were to present evidence before a judge who is expected to make a quick decision on Franco’s future.
A judge is expected to rule on Friday in a courtroom in the province of Puerto Plata, in the north of the Dominican Republic, where the accusations occurred, after analyzing the documents and other evidence collected over many months.
The judge had several options, including releasing Franco on bail, temporarily detaining him, barring him from leaving the Dominican Republic or ordering him to leave the country, sometimes until the trial or trial is over.
The 22-year-old All-Star remains in jail after being arrested this Monday in Puerto Plata. The Prosecutor’s Office also did not want to comment.
Prosecutors said in August:
“Authorities have not released any details about the case.”
On the 14th, Franco was investigated for posts on social networks that showed a relationship with a minor.
On December 28, a prosecutor asked Franco to appear, but he did not appear until Monday, and he was arrested after almost three hours of questioning.
Last August, Major League Baseball placed Franco on administrative leave under a joint domestic violence, fraud and child abuse policy with the Players Association.
The 22-year-old Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop was recently rumored to be in a relationship with a 14-year-old girl. She reportedly received money on the sly and said the relationship was bad when Franco stopped coughing.
@Roto_Frank , that alleged 14 year old girl that is being accused for on Wander Franco does not appear to be a 14 year old. She has a daughter that appears to be around 18 to 24 months old. This is looking very awkward. pic.twitter.com/qaic6LNiMr
— Juan Carlos Sampson (@SampsonJuan) August 14, 2023
In addition, another user saw a photo on Chevalier’s Instagram account showing him driving with a bottle of vodka in his hand.
According to the alleged victim’s Instagram (loredana_chevalier) she has multiple posts with her baby. She also has a post driving a car/having alcohol in possession. To drive a car and drink in the Dominican Republic you have to be 18.
Hopefully this means Wander is innocent pic.twitter.com/xlidrwN5ob
— Paredes Pimp (@ParedesPimp) August 14, 2023
There are only three photos above, none of which involve a baby or driving a car.
Meanwhile, Wander Franco was held out of the Tampa Bay Rays lineup on Sunday (the same day the news broke), but manager Kevin Cash said the All-Star Game was just a rest day.
From Wander Franco’s IG Live :
“They say that I’m in public with a little girl, that I’m running around with a minor. People don’t know what to do with their time. They don’t know what they’re talking about. That’s why I prefer to be on my side & not get involved with anybody.” pic.twitter.com/DEtsHCrbQW
— Jay Recher (@jayRecher) August 14, 2023
People don’t know what to do with their time. Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is facing allegations that he had an affair with a second underage girl.
Dominican newspaper Diario Libre reported this Sunday (August 14) that a 17-year-old girl filed a complaint against Franco, 22, in July in his native Dominican Republic.
Diario Libre explained that the little girl who filed the complaint is not the girl mentioned in the social media post. Franco appeared to deny the allegations in a video shared on Instagram Live.
“They say I’m in public with a girl and I’m running with a boy,”
Franco said in Spanish.
“People don’t know how to spend their time. The Rays confirmed that Major League Baseball is investigating the allegations in a statement obtained Tuesday (Aug. 13) by Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports.”
a statement from the Tampa Bay Rays:
“During today’s game, we were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco. We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence.”
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) August 13, 2023
“During today’s game, we became aware of a social media post circulating about Wander Franco.”
The Dominican signed an 11-year contract extension with the Rays in November 2011 after his freshman season and was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in 2023, hit .281 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs in 442 at-bats.
Fans reacted as follows:
He needs to rot in prison for the rest of his life
— Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) January 4, 2024
It’ll just never make sense.
You have a huge platform & you’re going after minors…Enjoy prison bro
— Nati Sports (@Nati_Sports) January 4, 2024
He should never be on an MLB roster ever again
— Bench Warmer Banter (@bwb_sports) January 4, 2024
All I'ma say is "pedophile" is a huge label to put on someone with no concrete facts. Let the shit play out folks. Some of you are making yourselves look very silly.
— Tc Bowen (@bowen_tc) August 14, 2023
I thought the same. No 14 year old here. Money grabber most likely.
— G2_4_2nd (@G2_4_2nd) August 15, 2023
The amount of people so quick to point out correctly that you can have a kid at 14, depending on her exact allgeged age, if that's a 2 year old, plus 9 months of pregnancy, she'd have been quite young, which is still possible but adds a layer to the story. Need some facts.
— Matthews Meowstache (@TheLeafsMeow) August 14, 2023
She deleted those pics and now she’s saying that kid isn’t hers 😂she’s definitely lying
— Ivan Daniel (@IvanDaniel85) August 15, 2023
American culture and laws do not apply to every country. Just saying.
— Johnny (@johnycque) August 14, 2023
She just turned 18. Family is saying Wander said he’d come back for her we want our bag now, we waited 5 years. Wander says I’m married with kids now so nah, so now they’re trying to extort him. pic.twitter.com/EIHHRox7QS
— Z (@zquill26) August 14, 2023
Look at the way he conducts himself on the field. Why are we surprised he’d conduct himself in the same manner off the field: arrogant and entitled.
— Mcnugz (@Mcnugz2Mcnugz) August 14, 2023
Just trade him and pick up $190 million of his contract. Problem solved.
— Not Napier's Fault (@Gatorboltz) August 14, 2023
Literally didn’t deny anything
— Jacob (@Jacob40w) August 14, 2023
Man, I feel bad for Tampa fans. What a terrible representative for your organization. This is just gross.
— Ry (@RyGuy94122) August 14, 2023
It’s truly a shame to see a person throw his life away like this top prospect for years finally made it and now doing this if he did the crime he had to serve his sentence it is what it is and he has to repent for what he did
— KershawtoNYY (@QJackus) August 14, 2023
