Federal prosecutors have unsealed sweeping new charges against the leader of a global megachurch, exposing how unchecked power and secrecy can breed systemic abuse while institutions and authorities fail to protect vulnerable Americans.
Story Snapshot
- Naasón Joaquín García, head of La Luz del Mundo, indicted in New York on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
- Alleged crimes span decades, targeting women and children within a global church with millions of followers.
- Federal and state authorities coordinated across jurisdictions, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the allegations.
- Case sparks calls for greater accountability and oversight of religious organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
Federal Indictment Targets Global Religious Organization
In September 2025, a federal grand jury in New York indicted Naasón Joaquín García, longtime head of the Mexican-based megachurch La Luz del Mundo, on charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Prosecutors allege García and five close associates systematically exploited church members, including women and children, over multiple decades. This indictment follows García’s 2022 conviction in California, where he is currently serving a 16-year sentence for related state crimes. The new federal charges expand the scope of accountability, implicating a broader network within the church’s leadership structure and signaling a coordinated criminal enterprise.
La Luz del Mundo, founded in 1926 and boasting over five million followers worldwide, wields significant influence both in Mexico and among Hispanic communities in the United States. The church’s rigid hierarchy and the veneration of García as a divinely appointed “apostle” are cited as key factors that enabled abuse to persist unchecked. Allegations against García and his associates intensified after he became the church’s third leader in 2014, following his father, Samuel Joaquín Flores, who also faced uncharged accusations of sexual abuse. The new federal case distinguishes itself by targeting not only García but also his inner circle, demonstrating law enforcement’s determination to dismantle organized abuse within powerful institutions.
Authorities Coordinate to Dismantle Systemic Abuse
U.S. federal and state law enforcement agencies—including the Department of Justice, ICE, and the California Attorney General’s office—have joined forces to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes. García was taken into federal custody in California, where he remains incarcerated pending further legal proceedings in New York. The latest indictment leverages racketeering statutes (RICO), commonly used against organized crime, to address the coordinated exploitation of vulnerable individuals within a religious setting. Law enforcement officials have described the case as a disturbing example of how unchecked authority and institutional secrecy can facilitate long-term abuse, emphasizing the importance of robust legal safeguards and transparent oversight.
García’s legal team has yet to issue a public response to the federal indictment. Meanwhile, survivor advocacy groups and legal experts have praised the authorities’ efforts, noting that the case sets a critical precedent for prosecuting religious leaders and organizations complicit in systemic abuse. Some church members, however, continue to support García, viewing the charges as targeted persecution. This divide underscores the broader challenges of holding charismatic leaders and insular organizations accountable while respecting religious freedoms and constitutional protections.
Broader Implications for Religious Accountability and U.S. Communities
The indictment’s impact extends well beyond La Luz del Mundo’s immediate leadership. In the short term, increased scrutiny of the church may lead to additional arrests, lawsuits, and institutional reforms. For survivors and their families, the case represents a chance for justice and recognition after years of silence and intimidation. The broader Hispanic and religious communities face a reckoning with the erosion of trust in faith-based organizations and the need for robust protections against abuse.
Longtime head of Mexican megachurch is indicted in New York on federal sex trafficking charges https://t.co/ktyDix8KU5 pic.twitter.com/k1LOxhDmBC
— NY Daily Record (@NYDailyRecord) September 10, 2025
Economically, La Luz del Mundo could face significant financial liabilities from legal settlements and declining membership. Politically and socially, the case fuels ongoing debates about the oversight of powerful institutions, the dangers of unchecked authority, and the necessity for independent investigations into allegations of abuse. Experts warn that unless meaningful safeguards and external accountability are established, similar abuses could persist undetected in other organizations. The prosecution’s use of RICO statutes may influence future efforts to address systemic abuse wherever it is found, reaffirming the principle that no individual or institution is above the law.
Sources:
Longtime head of Mexican megachurch is indicted in New York on federal sex trafficking charges
Leader of La Luz del Mundo Megachurch Charged by Federal Grand Jury
Naasón Joaquín García – Wikipedia
