Dominican Judge Finds MLB's Wander Franco Criminally Liable, Grants Judicial Pardon
On Monday, May 25, 2026, a Dominican judge found Wander Franco criminally responsible for sexual and psychological abuse of a minor and granted him a judicial pardon that overturned a June 2025 suspended sentence.[1]
Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison term at the new proceeding, but the court instead sentenced the girl's mother to 10 years for money laundering and commercial sexual exploitation tied to payments from Franco.[1] Investigators previously found more than $100,000 in cash during raids on the mother's home, and prosecutors said she used her daughter as a financial commodity to extract thousands from Franco.[1]
The relationship began around December 2022, when Franco was 21 and the girl was 14.[1] The court formally recognized Franco as both criminally responsible and a victim of an alleged extortion and blackmail scheme by the girl's mother.[1] Franco has not played in Major League Baseball since August 2023.[2] He was placed on administrative leave and later moved to MLB's restricted list, which froze his salary and service time.[2] MLB's separate investigation under its domestic violence and child abuse policy remains open.[1]
Legal experts say the conviction likely qualifies as a "crime involving moral turpitude" under U.S. immigration law.[1] That would make it extremely difficult for Franco to obtain a U.S. work visa even with the judicial pardon.[1] Roughly $160 million remains on Franco's 11-year, $182 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.[1] The club is under no obligation to pay him if he cannot secure a visa or report, and it could seek to void the deal under standard morality clauses.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, May 25, 2026, a Dominican Republic judge found Wander Franco criminally responsible for sexual and psychological abuse of a minor but granted a judicial pardon, overturning his June 2025 two-year suspended sentence.
- Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison term for Franco at the new proceeding, but the court instead sentenced the girl's mother to 10 years in prison for money laundering and commercial sexual exploitation tied to payments from Franco.
- Investigators previously found more than $100,000 in cash during raids on the mother's home linked to Franco, and prosecutors argued she used her daughter as a financial commodity, extracting thousands of dollars from Franco in exchange for consenting to the relationship.
- The relationship began around December 2022 when Franco was 21 and the girl was 14, and the court formally recognized Franco as both criminally responsible and a victim of an alleged extortion and blackmail scheme by the girl's mother.
- Legal experts cited say the conviction likely qualifies as a "crime involving moral turpitude" under U.S. immigration law, making it extremely difficult for Franco to obtain a U.S. work visa even with the judicial pardon.
- Roughly $160 million remains on Franco's 11-year, $182 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, and the club is under no obligation to pay him if he cannot secure a visa or report and could seek to void the deal under standard morality clauses.
- Franco has not played in MLB since August 2023, when allegations surfaced on social media; he was placed on administrative leave and later moved to MLB's restricted list, freezing his salary and service time, while MLB's separate investigation under its domestic violence and child abuse policy remains open.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- The Fox article reiterates that on Monday, May 25, 2026, a Dominican Republic judge found Wander Franco criminally responsible for sexual and psychological abuse of a minor but granted a judicial pardon, overturning his June 2025 two-year suspended sentence.
- Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison term for Franco at the new proceeding, but the court instead imposed its harshest penalty on the girl’s mother, sentencing her to 10 years in prison for money laundering and commercial sexual exploitation tied to payments from Franco.
- Investigators previously found more than $100,000 in cash during raids on the mother’s home that were linked to Franco, and prosecutors argued she used her daughter as a financial commodity, extracting thousands of dollars from Franco in exchange for consenting to the relationship.
- The article notes that Franco’s relationship with the 14-year-old began around December 2022, when he was 21, and that the court formally recognized him as both criminally responsible and a victim of an alleged extortion and blackmail scheme by the girl’s mother.
- Legal experts cited in the piece say the conviction likely qualifies as a 'crime involving moral turpitude' under U.S. immigration law, making it extremely difficult for Franco to obtain a U.S. work visa even with the judicial pardon.
- The article details that roughly $160 million remains on Franco’s 11-year, $182 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and says the club is under no obligation to pay him if he cannot secure a visa or report, and could seek to void the deal under standard morality clauses.
- Franco has not played in MLB since August 2023, when allegations surfaced on social media; he was then placed on administrative leave and later moved to MLB’s restricted list, freezing his salary and service time, while MLB’s separate investigation under its domestic violence and child abuse policy remains open.