Ex-Reds star Rijo indicted in D.R.

SAN PEDRO, Dominican Republic, July 30 (UPI) -- Former Cincinnati Reds all-star pitcher Jose Rijo has been indicted on charges of laundering money for an alleged drug trafficker, prosecutors said Monday.

Dominican Republic officials said Rijo, who was the 1990 World Series MVP in the Reds' four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics, was charged with laundering money for suspected drug cartel leader Matias Avelino Castro, Dominican Today reported.

Castro has been accused of ordering the abduction and slaying of journalist Jose Silvestre, editor of the magazine the Voice of Truth.

The Dominican Justice Ministry alleged Rijo organized property transactions for Castro despite knowing the illegal origins of his money, the newspaper said.

Prosecutors in San Pedro have asked that bond for Rijo be set at $510,000 and that he be banned from traveling.

Rijo, 47, posted two victories in the 1990 World Series for Cincinnati. He compiled a 116-91 record with a 3.24 ERA over 14 seasons with the Athletics. Reds and New York Yankees.

Rijo worked as a special assistant to Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden until he was fired in 2009, following a disclosure a Dominican player he scouted and brought into the organization had provided a fake name and was four years older than the Nationals had been told when they signed him.