Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco Faces Trial in Dominican Republic on Sexual Abuse and Human Trafficking Charges

The trial, starting December 12, could take months and carries a potential 20-year prison sentence if Franco is convicted.

Wander Franco, 23, is charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl, sexual exploitation of a minor, and human trafficking in his home country, the Dominican Republic.
Prosecutors allege Franco paid the girl's mother $17,000 for consent and transferred additional funds, leading to money laundering charges against the mother, who is under house arrest.
The trial will be heard by a panel of judges, as jury trials are not used in the Dominican Republic, and could last up to eight months based on typical case durations.
Franco, who was placed on MLB's restricted list in 2024, has not been receiving his $2 million salary since formal charges were filed in July.
If convicted, Franco faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, with additional legal scrutiny over a separate firearm possession charge that could add 3-5 years.