A judge in the Dominican Republic ordered the conditional release of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco while he is being investigated for allegations of having a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and providing her mother with a car and thousands of dollars in exchange for her consent, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. He is allowed to leave the Dominican Republic but must return once a month to meet with authorities. Franco was ordered to pay 2 million Dominican pesos ($34,000) as a type of deposit as the investigation continues.
Franco did not speak to reporters after the hearing but briefly told reporters “everything is in God’s hands” during a bathroom break earlier in the day. Outside supporters clapped after the ruling and shouted “Boss! Boss!” in reference to Franco. His father exclaimed, “God is just.”
The 22-year-old All-Star is accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The judge in the case, Rumaldi Marcelino, had several options for a ruling Friday: release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him, prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic or demand that he make occasional appearances until the investigation or a trial has ended. Meanwhile, the girl’s 35-year-old mother, who faces the same charges as Franco, was ordered held under house arrest as the investigation continues.
Franco has not been charged with any crimes and has been detained since Monday in the northern province of Puerto Plata. The athlete’s lawyers have not commented, other than saying that Franco was “doing fine.” The investigation began after an anonymous tip in July 2023, following the media post alluding to the relationship.
Authorities accuse Franco 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. Allegedly, Franco sent the mother monthly payments and bought her a car “in order to allow the relationship and let her go out with him wherever she wanted,” according to the document.
There were further allegations about money being sent from Franco and a live video he published in September, accusing the alleged scheme to extort money from him. Authorities raided the home of the girl’s mother and seized large sums of money as well as a guarantee certificate from a local bank. More details were found, including the purchase of the car and property worth a significant amount, which raised red flags for authorities.
In September 2023, the mother had withdrawn the girl from school. The girl’s mother, who works at a local bank and was wearing sunglasses, declined comment as she was escorted to a courtroom. A small group of young Dominican players donned in baseball attire came to support Franco, carrying posters that read, “Free Franco,” and “We all are Franco.” MLB is conducting their own investigation as well.