MLB star Wander Franco ‘has bank accounts seized in the Dominican Republic’ amid dispute with legal team as the Rays shortstop stands accused of having a sexual relationship with a girl, 14, and paying off her mother

Wander Franco’s bank accounts in the Dominican Republic have reportedly been seized as the suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop faces accusation of sexual and psychological abuse of a 14-year-old girl.

As reported by Televisión Pública, Franco is accused by a source of breaching one contract with his attorneys and refusing to pay their fees for work that has already been completed.

Franco is accused of having a relationship with the teenager and paying her mother thousands of dollars for her consent.

Originally accused of commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering — charges that carry up to 30 years, 10 years and 20 years of prison respectively — Franco now stands accused instead of sexual and psychological abuse, according to a judge’s resolution that The Associated Press obtained on Tuesday.

Franco has not been formally accused, but if found guilty on the new charge, he could face between two to five years in prison.

Franco failed to report for spring training with the Rays on Sunday – the deadline ahead of the team’s first official full-roster workout.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the rest of the Rays’ position players reported for training on Sunday ahead of Monday’s workout.

MLB’s ‘mandatory report date’ is February 24, giving the Rays another week before a decision has to be made regarding Franco’s status for the start of the season. 

The All-Star shortstop remains in the Dominican Republic and would face a battle to return to the US while the investigation remains ongoing. 

MLB players are paid from the start of the regular season and if Franco is still unavailable by then, he could be placed back on administrative leave or on the restricted list.

The All-Star shortstop was due back in court in his native Dominican Republic this month

He is due to be paid $2million this season as part of his 11 year, $182m contract with Tampa Bay. 

According to prosecutors, and testimonies from the girl and other members of her family, Franco paid the girl’s mother thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts, in exchange for the mother’s consent to engage in a sexual relationship with her daughter. 

The Code for the Protection of the Right of Children and Adolescents, Law 136-03 in the Dominican Republic, considers sexual abuse as any relationship between a minor and a person five years older. Franco started engaging in a relationship with the girl when she was 14 and he was 21. 

Franco was due back in court on February 8, when the girl was set to face questioning from the judge.