Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic—Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, has had charges of money laundering and sexual exploitation of a minor dismissed by a judge. However, he still faces potential counts of sexual and psychological abuse and abduction in relation to an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old.
Franco, 22, was released from jail in the Dominican Republic on Monday after posting a financial guarantee of $34,000. This guarantees his monthly visits to the court for the next six months. The accusation of sexual abuse of a minor is considered an aggravated felony, and if found guilty, Franco could face a prison sentence of two to five years.
While he has not been formally charged with a crime yet, Franco faces significant obstacles to return to the United States. According to Javad Khazaeli, a former prosecutor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it will be challenging for Franco to obtain a visa approval unless the credible allegations against him are proven false. The U.S. government would prioritize the ongoing law enforcement prosecution.
Both the Rays, Franco’s U.S.-based attorney Jay Reisinger, and the Major League Baseball Players Association declined to comment on the latest developments. Franco currently holds a special five-year visa granted to professional athletes allowing him to perform in the United States. However, with the publicity surrounding Franco’s absence from the final months of the 2023 season, it will be difficult to prove his necessity in the U.S.
The government has the authority to deny entry to a foreign citizen if it deems reasonable grounds. Javad Khazaeli pointed out that decisions made by the State Department are typically not appealable through the judicial system. If denied entry to the U.S., Franco could potentially lose millions of dollars. He would be unable to report for spring training or participate in the Rays’ season opener on March 28. In such a scenario, the team would place him on the restricted list, resulting in a loss of pay for Franco.
The allegations against Franco first came to light in August, prompting his placement on administrative leave under the MLB and players union’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy. This allowed for investigations to be conducted by the league and Dominican officials while Franco collected on his contract.
Despite the dismissal of charges, Franco still faces the possibility of formal charges within the next six months. The mother of the minor involved still faces the original accusations. Franco, who signed an 11-year contract worth $182 million in November 2021, risks losing millions even if he is not formally charged or convicted. MLB has the authority to suspend him without pay.
Franco was elected to his first All-Star team in July and was performing strongly before his season was cut short. The Rays, who removed advertising and merchandise featuring Franco from Tropicana Field in August, have made plans for his potential absence by trading for shortstop Jose Caballero.
In conclusion, Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, has had charges of money laundering and sexual exploitation of a minor dismissed. However, he still faces potential counts of sexual and psychological abuse and abduction. While not formally charged yet, Franco’s return to the United States could be challenging due to the ongoing law enforcement prosecution. If denied entry, he risks losing millions of dollars and being unable to participate in the upcoming baseball season.