Rays Star Wander Franco’s Bank Accounts Seized in Dominican Republic

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, 22, faces more trouble in his native Dominican Republic, amid an investigation into the alleged sexual and psychological abuse of a minor.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, three of Franco's bank accounts in the Dominican Republic have been frozen. The 22-year-old MLB All-Star is accused by his former attorney of refusing to pay up to $256,000 in legal fees, amid his case in Santo Domingo. Juan Francisco Rodríguez Consoró filed the lawsuit against Franco. 

Tampa Bay Rays Dominican baseball shortstop Wander Franco,who faces an accusation of molesting an underage girl, arrives in court under heavy escort in Puerto Plata, in Dominican Republic, on January 5. The hearing was being held behind closed doors and Franco, 22 did not make a statement before entering. The baseball player and the mother of the 15-year-old girl were charged with "the crimes of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering." (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

The shortstop's representation, Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación, against the new lawsuit stated that his client never signed a contract agreeing to owe Consoró the exorbitant amount of money. According to court documents,Consoró was removed from his position last year for "accepting bribes and issued court orders favoring suspects in several criminal cases." Franco's parents also had their bank accounts seized. 

READ: Authorities Have Released The Details Of The Wander Franco Case, And They Are As Disgusting As You'd Expect

The MLB player was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 2. Franco is accused of having a relationship with an underage girl and paying off her mother in order to maintain the relationship. No criminal charges have been assigned to Franco.

Franco failed to report at the start of Rays Spring Training on Sunday, leaving his future in baseball in real jeopardy. He signed an 11-year, $182-million contract with the Rays in 2021. 

Tampa Bay Rays short stop Wander Franco. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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