Dominican authorities freeze Wander Franco’s bank accounts amid conflict

Authorities in the Dominican Republic have ordered the temporary freezing of three bank accounts associated with Wander Franco after one of the Rays’ former shortstop lawyers in Santo Domingo filed a lawsuit over unpaid fees.

Franco’s Puerto Plata lawyer Teodosio Jacques Encarnacion on Thursday is seeking the equivalent of $256,000 in compensation for the seven weeks he claims Juan Francisco Rodríguez Consola represented Franco. said.

About a week ago, Rodriguez-Consola told the Tampa Bay Times in a text message that he was no longer representing the 22-year-old player, without specifying when or why.

Franco faces criminal charges for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, which could send him to prison and end his major league career.

“Rodriguez Consola will have the opportunity to present to the judge all the procedures and diligence he has done on Wandel’s behalf, and that judge or necessary judge will be able to determine how much money Wandel is really asking him to make.” “We will decide whether we have an obligation to pay,” Encarnacion said. “But what he is trying to accuse is abuse!”

Encarnacion said Dominican authorities froze not only Franco’s accounts, but also those of his parents, Nancy Aybar and Wander Franco.

A Times reporter tried to reach Rodriguez-Consoro by phone Thursday afternoon for details on the lawsuit, but he refused to talk and hung up without explanation.

Less than a year ago, Rodríguez Consolo was removed from his position as a criminal court judge following an investigation by the Dominican Republic’s highest disciplinary body. Court documents revealed that he accepted bribes and issued court orders in favor of suspects in several criminal cases.

Encarnacion said Dominican judicial authorities would reveal the facts about Rodríguez Consola and his role as former President Franco’s lawyer. He said Franco never signed a contract with Rodriguez-Consolow that set out such an amount.

Encarnacion said, “Wonder never signed a contract with him, nor Wonder’s parents, agreeing to pay him that much money.” “It’s completely excessive and disproportionate.”

Encarnacion criticized Rodriguez-Consoro’s case as abusive, saying the work he did while leading the defense team was minimal or non-existent.

“He didn’t even take the stand at Wonder’s first hearing. I did, and I know why he didn’t. People who live in glass houses should throw rocks. Not,” Encarnacion said. “Wonder never once refused to pay a man who did nothing. He did everything.”

According to Encarnacion, Dominican authorities have given Rodríguez Consola three days to submit the necessary documents to substantiate and support the fees he plans to charge.

Encarnacion said the situation with Rodriguez-Consolé was tense from the beginning because Wander’s parents never wanted him to be their son’s lawyer.

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“When they found out who he was, they told Mr. Wonder they didn’t want him to continue because he was causing more harm than help,” Encarnacion said. “People always say, ‘Tell me who you’re with and I’ll tell you who you are.’

Encarnacion said he is focused on navigating the challenges of Franco’s legal battle.

“We are working on Wonder’s judicial process and there will be an outcome as the judge decides on Wonder’s guilt or innocence. We are in the final stages,” Encarnacion said. “Soon we will know the decision and you will realize that most of what is said on social networks does not correspond to real facts.”

Encarnacion said Franco was aware of the situation and continued to do what was asked of him. He did not say whether Franco plans to return to Tampa Bay in the near future.

The allegations against Franco first became public via social media on August 13, but Franco appeared to deny the allegations in a live video broadcast on his Instagram channel that day. He has not spoken publicly since then, but in early January during a break in a public hearing to consider prosecutors’ request for strong measures, he told reporters in the Dominican Republic, “Everything is in God’s hands.” It’s in it,” he said.

“Wonder is here working with his family and practicing sports almost every day as usual,” Encarnacion said. “When the time comes and it’s needed or needed, he’ll be there.”