Former spiritual leader Naasón Joaquín García of the La Luz Del Mundo Church has been hit with a litany of charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the unsealing of an Indictment detailing allegations against García and four others involved in what has been termed the “Joaquín LLDM Enterprise.”
The indictment accuses García and his associates of a decades-long exploitation of the church’s members for their own sexual gratification. It alleges the creation of photos and videos depicting sadistic child sexual abuse, all carried out under the guise of religious authority.
Naasón Joaquín García was taken into federal custody in Chino, California, where he is currently serving a state sentence for the sexual abuse of minors. Other defendants include Rosa Sosa, Azalia Rangel García, Eva García de Joaquín, Joram Núñez Joaquin, and Silem García Peña. Sosa, Rangel García, and García Peña are believed to be in Mexico, while Núñez Joaquin was arrested outside of Chicago.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized the role religion played in facilitating the abuse: “They exploited the faith of their followers to prey upon them. When they were confronted, they leveraged their religious influence and financial power to intimidate and coerce victims into remaining silent.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel highlighted the bravery of survivors who came forward with information: “The defendants are accused of targeting individuals who gave LLDM Church their unquestioning trust and devotion and who in turn endured unimaginable crimes.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., pointed to the criminal enterprise’s hidden nature within the church: “Behind the legitimacy of a church and their many believing congregants, Naasón and his co-conspirators built an alleged criminal empire on the sexual abuse of women and children.”
Related Federal Cases
- LLDM Church Leader Naasón Joaquín García Indicted in Sex Trafficking Ring · Illinois
- Filiberto ‘Beto’ Chavez Found Guilty of Meth and Sex Trafficking · New York
- Illuminate Education Hit with $5.1M Fine for Student Data Breach · Connecticut
- Google Hit with Antitrust Win in New York AG’s Suit · New Hampshire
- Fairport Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Snake Trafficking · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
