On September 23, 2025, the marble halls of a New York federal court bore witness to a case that has sent shockwaves across continents. Naasón Joaquín García, the controversial leader of the Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World), stood before Judge Loretta A. Preska, pleading not guilty to sex trafficking charges that prosecutors say span generations and continents. Alongside him in the indictment is his 79-year-old mother, both accused of sexually abusing young followers—a legacy that, according to court documents, stretches back to García’s father and grandfather, both now deceased.
The indictment, unsealed two weeks prior to the hearing, paints a chilling picture. García, now 56 and hailing from Los Angeles, is accused of wielding his immense power as the church’s “Apostle” to orchestrate the sexual abuse of children and women. Prosecutors allege that this abuse was not a solitary crime but part of a pattern: "His father and grandfather, both deceased, did the same before him," the court documents state, as reported by the Associated Press.
At the hearing, García—flanked by attorneys and listening through a Spanish translator—sometimes spoke English, a detail that underscored the cross-cultural scope of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Espinosa revealed to the court that the government had amassed “an enormous amount of electronic evidence.” She said this trove included materials from a 2019 California state prosecution, which had already landed García in prison for more than 16 years, a sentence he is currently serving.
But the story doesn’t end there. In a dramatic escalation, authorities conducted raids on three locations in the Central District of California just two weeks before the New York hearing. Over two dozen additional electronic devices were seized, and what they contained, according to prosecutors, is deeply disturbing: photos and videos of child sexual abuse, some allegedly created at García’s direction and sent to him via cellphone.
The scope of the alleged crimes is staggering. Prosecutors assert that La Luz del Mundo was used as a vehicle for sex trafficking women and children not just in the United States and Mexico, but also in Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond. While the church claims a presence in over 50 countries and boasts millions of followers worldwide, reliable membership statistics are elusive. What is clear is that its reach is vast: in the U.S. alone, the church has locations in California, New York, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington D.C., to name just a few.
As the spiritual head of this global movement, García was revered by his followers as the “Apostle.” Prosecutors argue that this veneration was not benign. In a court filing that successfully argued against granting bail to García’s mother, they wrote, "Church members were taught that God will punish and eternally damn anyone who doubts the Apostle, fails to follow his teachings or defies the Apostle." This doctrine, they contend, created an environment ripe for exploitation and abuse.
Beyond the sexual abuse allegations, prosecutors say García also enriched himself and others by forcing church followers to work long hours in various jobs—construction, nannying, cleaning, accounting, and more—without pay. The financial exploitation, they argue, was intertwined with the spiritual manipulation at the heart of the church’s teachings.
Hundreds of images of child pornography, prosecutors allege, were created at García’s behest and sent directly to him. The evidence, they say, is damning and voluminous. Yet, García’s defense team remains defiant. Attorney Alan Jackson, who represented García two weeks ago when the indictment was first unsealed, dismissed the charges as “a reckless campaign of government overreach.” He insisted, "These are a rehashing of old, recycled claims that have been made before, scrutinized before, and ultimately debunked and disproven before." As of Tuesday, García’s lawyer had not responded to new requests for comment.
The prosecution, meanwhile, is urging any additional victims to come forward. Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office, emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and invited anyone who believes they were victimized to contact the office directly. The next chapter in this legal saga is set for December 15, when García is scheduled to return to court.
The allegations have cast a long shadow over La Luz del Mundo, a church that has prided itself on its global reach and spiritual mission. Founded in Mexico in the 1920s, the church has grown into one of the largest religious movements in Latin America and has steadily expanded its footprint in the United States and beyond. Its followers, often drawn from immigrant communities seeking connection and support, have built temples and congregations in cities as diverse as Los Angeles, Houston, New York, and Atlanta.
For many members, García was not just a religious leader but a living apostle—someone believed to be divinely chosen to guide the faithful. This belief, prosecutors allege, was exploited to create an atmosphere of unquestioning loyalty and fear of divine retribution. The court filings describe a closed world in which dissent was equated with spiritual damnation, and obedience was demanded at all costs.
The scale and severity of the allegations have prompted soul-searching within the broader religious community. Critics say the case exposes the dangers of unchecked authority and the vulnerability of followers within insular organizations. Supporters of García, however, insist that he is the target of a campaign to discredit their faith and its leader. As one longtime member told the Associated Press, "Our faith is being attacked, but we believe in the truth and in our Apostle." That faith, for now, remains unshaken among some, despite the gravity of the charges.
Meanwhile, legal experts note that the case is likely to set precedents for how U.S. courts handle allegations of transnational abuse within religious organizations. The involvement of García’s mother, now 79, adds another layer of complexity, raising questions about generational accountability and the perpetuation of abuse within hierarchical religious families.
As the legal process unfolds, the world will be watching—not only to see whether justice is served, but also to gauge the resilience of a faith community rocked by scandal. For the alleged victims, the proceedings offer a long-awaited chance to be heard. For García and his supporters, they represent a fight for vindication and the future of their church. The next hearing may provide more answers, but for now, the story of La Luz del Mundo and its embattled leader is far from over.