Six leaders of the Mexico-based La Luz del Mundo megachurch, including its current "apostle" Naasón Joaquín García and his mother, are now at the center of a sweeping federal indictment unsealed this week, facing charges of racketeering, child pornography, and sex trafficking. The indictment, which carries potential life sentences for some offenses, marks a dramatic escalation in the legal reckoning for a church whose leadership has been accused of systematic sexual abuse spanning generations.
According to NPR, García, 56, had already been serving a 16-year, 8-month sentence in California after a 2022 plea deal on state sex abuse charges. On September 10, 2025, authorities moved him into federal custody as the new indictment was revealed. That same day, his 79-year-old mother, Eva García de Joaquín, was arrested in Los Angeles. Four more associates—Joram Núñez Joaquín, Silem García Peña, Rosa Sosa, and Azalia Rangel García—are also named as defendants, with Núñez Joaquín arrested outside Chicago and the others believed to be at large in Mexico.
The charges allege that the family at the helm of La Luz del Mundo, or "Light of the World," used their positions to facilitate and conceal sexual abuse for nearly a century. Prosecutors claim that García, his late father Samuel Joaquín Flores, and grandfather Aarón Joaquin Gonzalez, who founded the church, systematically abused followers, often with the help of relatives and trusted employees. The indictment paints a chilling picture: “On at least one occasion, [Samuel's wife Eva García de Joaquín] held down a minor victim so that Samuel could rape the victim,” federal documents state.
Survivors and advocates have hailed the federal charges as a long-awaited form of justice. Sochil Martin, a 39-year-old former member who has assisted authorities, told NPR, “So many survivors have been speaking up now” from both Mexico and the United States. Martin recounted her aunt’s reaction to the news: “It was a good day for her. Even though Samuel left this world and didn’t pay his debt to society and to the kids that he abused, at least his wife is now living to see that day. And that’s a form of justice for a lot of survivors.”
The scope of the alleged crimes is staggering. Prosecutors say victims, some as young as 13, were trafficked internationally—to Asia, Europe, Africa, Mexico, and the U.S.—and sometimes used to smuggle money. Court filings describe García’s acts as “depraved and unspeakable,” including rape, forced incest, and “sadistic sexual rituals for his sexual gratification.” The indictment asserts that the church’s inner circle not only abused minors and women but also engaged in international money laundering and intimidation to silence victims and witnesses.
The four other defendants face equally grave accusations. Joram Núñez Joaquín, 37, is accused of posing as a lawyer, silencing victims, and destroying evidence. Silem García Peña, 43, allegedly led the church’s public relations arm and worked to prevent victims from reporting abuse. Rosa Sosa, 59, and Azalia Rangel García, 46, are charged with “grooming” victims and abusing minors and young women. Authorities note that Rangel García has been at large since being named in California state charges back in 2019.
Law enforcement’s search of the family’s two adjoining homes in East Los Angeles revealed the material extent of the church leadership’s wealth. Officers seized more than $1 million in U.S. currency, along with foreign cash, numerous gold coins, pure gold and platinum pieces, luxury watches, and jewelry. At Eva García de Joaquín’s residence, a trapdoor under a bed led to an underground safe containing approximately $220,000 in cash, jewelry, a jade-wrapped USB drive, and even more gold coins. Prosecutors argue that the family’s "access to vast internationally accessible wealth" makes them a flight risk and justifies their continued detention.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of multiple properties, including three homes in Los Angeles and a rural home in San Bernardino County, California. The case is being handled in New York’s Southern District by District Judge Loretta Preska, who has previously overseen high-profile sex trafficking proceedings, including those related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
La Luz del Mundo, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, claims over 6 million followers and operates in more than 60 countries. Its U.S. holdings are substantial, including a large church and residences in Los Angeles, as well as properties in New York, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. However, as noted in the indictment, reliable membership numbers remain elusive despite the church’s own claims, according to a recent report by El Occidental.
Church leadership, especially the so-called "apostle," wields enormous influence over members. The 2022 HBO documentary Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo explored this dynamic, with director Jennifer Tiexiera telling NPR, “The power that they wield is extreme. The members believe that that’s the direct connection to God himself.” Speaking out against the apostle or church, former members say, can lead to ostracism and even threats of violence. Martin likened the church’s leadership to organized crime, remarking, “It is the mafia. That’s what it is. And it’s disguised as a church.”
While the indictment has brought relief to many survivors, the church’s defense remains steadfast. García’s attorney, Alan Jackson, told NPR, “We categorically deny these charges. We reject the grotesque portrait painted by the government and its allies.” Jackson characterized the prosecution as "a reckless campaign of government overreach," claiming it is fueled by disgruntled former congregation members and predicting the charges will ultimately be disproven in court.
Prosecutors, however, maintain that García and his co-defendants “exploited the faith of their followers to prey upon them.” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, “When they were confronted, they leveraged their religious influence and financial power to intimidate and coerce victims into remaining silent about the abuse they had suffered.”
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, buoyed by the courage of dozens of survivors who have come forward. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel praised their bravery: “I thank the brave survivors who provided law enforcement with vital information related to these allegations, and I encourage others with helpful information to do the same.”
The unsealing of the indictment and the arrests on September 10, 2025, represent a significant turning point in a saga that has haunted La Luz del Mundo for decades. For survivors and their advocates, it is a moment of long-overdue accountability. For the church and its followers, it is a time of reckoning and, perhaps, a painful reexamination of faith and leadership.
