Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco received a two-year suspended prison sentence Thursday after being found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic.
The 24-year-old Franco was convicted for his relationship with a 14-year-old girl that began in December 2022 when he was 21.
Franco has been on MLB’s restricted list and has not received compensation since July 2024. His placement on the restricted list means he is unable to provide baseball services due to legal concerns.
Wander Franco Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor
According to MLB Digest, a court in the Dominican Republic found Franco guilty of sexual abuse on Thursday, June 26. Judge Jakayra Veras García delivered the verdict, which included a suspended prison sentence, meaning Franco will avoid jail time if he meets the court’s probation requirements.
Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison sentence for Franco. The court found him not guilty of sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor and human trafficking charges.
“BREAKING: Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic for an illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21. He received a two-year prison sentence, according to @JuanRecioM.” – @JeffPassan pic.twitter.com/tvT4uKMIzD
— MLB Digest (@TheMLBDigest) June 26, 2025
The victim’s mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was convicted on charges related to the case, including money laundering and sexually trafficking her daughter. She received a 10-year prison sentence, which she must serve in full.
Franco was accused of having a four-month relationship with the girl before his formal charges last year. Prosecutors alleged he transferred thousands of dollars to her mother in exchange for her approval of the relationship.
MLB Investigation Continues Amid Franco’s Conviction
While Franco remains on the restricted list, the Rays are not required to pay his salary. In November 2021, he signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with Tampa Bay, the largest in franchise history.
The court stated that the victim’s mother blackmailed and pressured Franco. Judge Veras directly addressed Franco during her ruling, saying, “Look at us, Wander. Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don’t like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time.”
Franco’s future in MLB remains unclear. The conviction could cause his guaranteed Rays contract to be voided or converted to a non-guaranteed deal, as immigration attorneys suggest the conviction will make obtaining a U.S. work visa extremely difficult.
Statement from MLB on trial of #Rays Franco:
“Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues. We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial…
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 26, 2025
“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.”
His full sentence details will be made public on July 17, when the court may add additional restrictions to the suspended sentence. Major League Baseball acknowledged its ongoing investigation in a statement after Thursday’s verdict.
“Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,” the statement read.
Franco’s Career Timeline and Legal Proceedings
Franco has not played in an MLB game since Aug. 12, 2023, one day before the sexual abuse allegations first surfaced on social media. He was immediately placed on administrative leave after denying the claims on his social media accounts.
He remained on administrative leave through the 2023 and 2024 seasons. After prosecutors formally filed charges in July 2024, Franco was moved to the restricted list because he could not report to the team due to his legal situation.
Franco’s conviction represents a dramatic fall from grace for the once-promising star who made his first All-Star appearance in 2023. The suspended sentence structure means he must comply with specific conditions, primarily avoiding contact with minors for sexual purposes, or face serving the full two-year prison term.