Wander Franco now faces human trafficking charges carrying a 20-year prison sentence in the Dominican Republic after the Rays star was booked for sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor
- READ MORE: MLB star Wander Franco 'is CHARGED with sex crimes in DR
- READ MORE: Franco placed on administrative leave by the Tampa Bay Rays
- READ MORE: Franco shares clip of himself playing baseball in the DR
Dominican authorities are accusing Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco of human trafficking on top of the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor charges he was already facing in his native country, according to ESPN.
The human trafficking charge carries a penalty of 20 years in prison.
He is alleged to have had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and is accused of paying her mother thousands of dollars for her consent.
The Prosecutor's Office in the Dominican Republic had until July 14 to file formal charges against Franco, and that process has now been completed, paving the way for the MLB star to face trial.
Franco was initially suspended by the Rays before being placed on administrative leave through June 1 - per an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, according to ESPN. Following the charges, MLB has now moved Franco from administrative leave to the restricted list, although ESPN's Jeff Passan cautioned that this is 'not a disciplinary action.'
Franco is still being paid his $2million salary, despite not appearing in an MLB game since allegations first surfaced in the summer of 2023. He remains under contract through 2032 and is reportedly owed $174m.
Wander Franco has been formally charged with sexual abuse against a minor
Franco allegedly had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother for her consent
Allegations of money laundering and sexual exploitation, meanwhile, were dismissed earlier this year, after Franco was released from jail. He was detained for a week after failing to respond to a summons by prosecutors.
In April, a judge in the Dominican Republic denied a request by Franco to end his monthly check-ins with the authorities - and to return his bail of around $35,000.
According to prosecutors, and testimonies from the girl and other members of her family, Franco paid the 14-year-old girl's mother thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts, in exchange for the mother's consent to engage in a sexual relationship with her daughter.
He was also accused by prosecutors of 'taking the minor away from her home in Puerto Plata in December 2022 and having a four-month relationship with her with consent from the girl's mother', as reported by the Associated Press.
Franco is married to Rachelly Paulino, his childhood sweetheart and they have two children
The Code for the Protection of the Right of Children and Adolescents, Law 136-03 in the Dominican Republic, considers sexual abuse as any relationship between a minor and a person five years older. Franco started engaging in a relationship with the girl when she was 14 and he was 21.
Franco was included in his first All-Star Team last season, and is regarded as one of the most exciting young players in Major League Baseball.
He is married to childhood sweetheart Rachelly Paulino, as first revealed by DailyMail.com last summer.
The pair have a five-bedroom home in Tampa - bought for $1.55m in May 2023 - and two children together, born in 2018 and 2022.
