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Wander Franco was tried on Monday in the midst of allegations that he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid his mother thousands of dollars for his consent.
The 2023 MLB All-Star played for the last time in August. Since then, he has been accused of having sexually abused a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and the trafficking of human beings.
The prosecutors say that the mother of the minor has gone from an employee of the bank to lead an ostentatious life and to acquire assets using the funds she received from Franco.
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Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco’s star was tried on Monday. (AP photo / Chris O’Meara, file)
During the raids on the mother of the minor, prosecutors say they have found $ 68,500 and $ 35,000 they allege were delivered by Franco.
Franco appeared on Monday in court and pronounced a categorical plea.
“Let justice be done,” he said, via ESPN.
According to ESPNThe Dominican prosecutors say that Franco called the minor “my daughter” in a WhatsApp message, admitting that the relationship was a “risk”, but he “loved”.
“My daughter,” wrote Franco in Spanish. “If my team realizes it, it could cause me problems. It is a rule for all the teams that we cannot speak to minors, and yet I took the risk and I loved it.”
The prosecutors say that Franco’s alleged relationship with the girl, who was 14 at the time, lasted four months, and he would have paid for it not to talk about it. The girl’s mother also faces accusations of money laundering on the basis of gifts that would have been sent to her by Franco.
The Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco, center stop, is escorted by police at the Puerto Plata court, in the Dominican Republic, January 5, 2024. (AP photo / Ricardo Hernández)
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The CUR arrest would have given the daughter the equivalent of $ 46,000 in July and August and would have paid the mother about $ 1,700 per month, as well as a new car, according to documents published in January of last year, via ESPN.
Franco and the girl would have met on December 9, 2022 after “taking her home”, had sex twice in two days and started their relationship.
Franco played a major league match for the last time on August 12, 2023, and with the accusations, it is now more and more likely that he will never play again.
Franco was a star for the first time of the season, while he reduced .281 / .344 / .475 with 17 circuits and 58 points produced on 112 games.
Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco’s judgment launched the first goal against the Miami Marlins in Tropicana Field in Saint Petersburg, Florida, July 25, 2023. (Jonathan Dyer-Usa today Sports)
He signed a contract extension of $ 182 million over 11 years in November 2021, but a team option was able to earn 233 million dollars. Franco is no longer paid, but received payments on administrative leave. Payments ended when it was then placed on the restricted list.
