Rays' Franco hit with gun charge from November incident as his Dominican trial continues
By Associated Press
June 9, 2025 at 7:28 AM EDT
A handgun registered to his uncle was found in Wander Franco's vehicle after an altercation, say Dominican prosecutors, who filed the charge Sunday.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who's on trial on charges including sexual abuse of a minor, was charged Sunday with illegal possession of a handgun, prosecutors said.
Franco was arrested Nov. 10 in San Juan de la Maguana after an altercation in a parking lot. No one was injured.
A semiautomatic Glock 19 was found in Franco's vehicle, according to a statement from the Dominican Public Prosecutor's Office.
The handgun was registered in the name of Franco's uncle, prosecutors said in the statement. After the arrest, Antonio Garcia Lorenzo, one of Franco’s lawyers, said that because the gun was licensed, “There's nothing illegal about it.”
Prosecutors requested that Franco stand trial on the gun charge.
Franco's trial in the sexual abuse case — involving a girl who was 14 at the time of his alleged crimes — is ongoing. The charges in that case include sexual abuse of a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.
According to prosecutors, Franco kidnapped the girl for sexual purposes and “sent large sums of money to her mother.”
Franco, 24, who is on supervised release, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
Franco was playing his third season with Tampa Bay when his career was halted in August 2023 because of the allegations. He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in November 2021. He is on Major League Baseball’s restricted list.
Franco was arrested Nov. 10 in San Juan de la Maguana after an altercation in a parking lot. No one was injured.
A semiautomatic Glock 19 was found in Franco's vehicle, according to a statement from the Dominican Public Prosecutor's Office.
The handgun was registered in the name of Franco's uncle, prosecutors said in the statement. After the arrest, Antonio Garcia Lorenzo, one of Franco’s lawyers, said that because the gun was licensed, “There's nothing illegal about it.”
Prosecutors requested that Franco stand trial on the gun charge.
Franco's trial in the sexual abuse case — involving a girl who was 14 at the time of his alleged crimes — is ongoing. The charges in that case include sexual abuse of a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.
According to prosecutors, Franco kidnapped the girl for sexual purposes and “sent large sums of money to her mother.”
Franco, 24, who is on supervised release, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
Franco was playing his third season with Tampa Bay when his career was halted in August 2023 because of the allegations. He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in November 2021. He is on Major League Baseball’s restricted list.