Wander Franco Pedophilia Scandal: Tampa Bay Rays Star Used His Mother to Pay the Mother of the Minor He Abused
More details have been revealed regarding the scandal surrounding suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, MLB all-star, and accused pedophile Wander Franco, who is accused of abusing a minor and paying off her mother to keep them quiet.
Prosecutors have revealed in new court documents in the Dominican Republic that Franco "used his mother to give money to the mother of a minor who he was accused of abusing in an effort to hide the funds." These new allegations came after he had finally been charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old minor after months of investigations in the Dominican Republic.
Prosecutors also indicted the girl's mother because she consented to the abuse after the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop paid her thousands of dollars. Wander Franco reportedly subjected her teen daughter to sexual and psychological abuse while he was in the Dominican Republic, according to the Associated Press.
Franco reportedly subjected the girl to abuse over the course of four months, and because her mother consented to this, she was placed under house arrest and is also facing a money laundering charge.
Prosecutors have revealed that she received around one million Dominican pesos, or $17,000, to consent to Wander Franco mistreating her minor daughter. These payments were revealed in two financial transfers that were made by Franco's mother on January 5, 2023,
The Dominican Republic prosecutors also concluded that "Franco's mother cannot prove where she obtained the money and that she deposited" to the account of the girl's mother. It was reported that Franco's mother could not come up with any reason why she would transfer that large amount of money to a woman she did not even know.
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Wander Franco Currently Placed on Administrative Leave by the Tampa Bay Rays Because of the Scandal
Franco is currently in the Dominican Republic to face his accusation amid the current MLB season. He was previously placed back on the active roster by the Tampa Bay Rays before the team placed him back on administrative leave when the season began.
As the New York Post noted, the shortstop had been summoned to speak with Dominican authorities back in December. However, he did not show up for a face-to-face sitdown with the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents. This led to his arrest in January but was released a week later.
As a condition for his release, Franco was required to make mandatory check-ins in the Dominican Republic on the 30th of every month.
Wander Franco and Minor's Mother Scheduled to Appear in Dominican Republic Court in August
As for what is next for Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays star and the mother of the minor he sexually abused are both scheduled to appear in court on August 14, with Franco facing charges of rape and human trafficking.
The Dominican star also has had his pay cut as he was placed on the restricted list since he was placed on administrative leave. This means he will only receive 50% of his salary on administrative leave.
READ MORE: Wander Franco Request Denied by Dominican Republic Judge in Sexual Abuse Case
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
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