Jose Rijo charged in Dominican

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- A prosecutor in the Dominican Republic says 1990 World Series MVP Jose Rijo has been charged with laundering money for a suspected drug trafficker.

Prosecutor Soraime Vargas says about 80 percent of the assets of fugitive drug suspect Avelino Castro were in Rijo's name. Those assets allegedly include two hotels and a sports complex. Vargas announced money laundering charges against the former pitcher at a news conference Monday.

Prosecutors asked a court to order Rijo to remain in the country but did not seek his arrest.

The 47-year-old Rijo led the Cincinnati Reds to the 1990 world championship. He also pitched for the Athletics and Yankees. Authorities began investigating him as part of a broader investigation after a Dominican journalist was kidnapped and killed, allegedly on the orders of Castro.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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