SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison and fined $507,000 by a Dominican court for corruption during his tenure as mayor of San Cristobal.
The 53-year-old was accused of embezzling $5 million during his time as mayor from 2010 to 2016. The sentencing followed a settlement with prosecutors.
The ex-player, who had served six years under house arrest, has effectively completed his sentence.
mlb
He earned the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1994, made an All-Star appearance the following year, and had a 13-season MLB career, also winning two Gold Gloves. His career included time with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels, and Atlanta Braves, finishing with a .271 batting average, 271 home runs, and 860 RBIs.
His political career began in San Cristobal, where he served as a lawmaker from 2006 to 2010. After his mayoral term, he unsuccessfully ran for the senate.
The former player faced multiple charges including document falsification, criminal association, and malfeasance. His son, who began his career with the Kansas City Royals and was part of their 2015 World Series-winning team, is currently a free agent following a knee injury in March 2023.
