Mexican Megachurch Leader Naasón Joaquín García Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Trafficking Charges

Naasón Joaquín García, the leader of the La Luz del Mundo megachurch, pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges during his first appearance in a New York federal court. The charges, which were unsealed two weeks prior, accuse García of using his position as the church’s head to sexually abuse children and women. His mother, also charged in the case, is accused of similar offenses. García, 56, and his mother faced the court in Manhattan, where Judge Loretta A. Preska presided over the hearing. García used a Spanish translator during the proceedings, and at times spoke in English.

The indictment alleges that García, along with his father and grandfather—both of whom are deceased—engaged in sexual abuse over generations. The case includes a significant amount of electronic evidence, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Espinosa. This evidence includes materials from a 2019 California state prosecution, which resulted in a prison sentence of more than 16 years for García. He is currently serving that sentence. Espinosa also noted that over two dozen electronic devices were seized during raids on three locations in the Central District of California.

Court documents describe the La Luz del Mundo church as being involved in sex trafficking across multiple continents, including the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Africa, and elsewhere. The church claims a global presence in over 50 countries with millions of members, though reliable membership figures are not available. In the U.S., the church has locations in California, New York, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington D.C., among other states.

As the church’s leader, García was referred to as the “Apostle,” and members were taught that God would punish and eternally damn anyone who doubted him, failed to follow his teachings, or defied him. Prosecutors argued in court documents that this belief structure justified denying bail to García’s mother. The case also includes allegations that García enriched himself and others by forcing church followers to work in various jobs—such as construction, nannies, aides, accountants, and cleaners—for long hours without pay.

Prosecutors further stated that hundreds of child pornography images were created at García’s direction and sent to him via cellphone. A lawyer for García did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Attorney Alan Jackson, who represents García, previously called the indictment the result of “a reckless campaign of government overreach.” He denied the charges, stating they were “a rehashing of old, recycled claims that have been made before, scrutinized before, and ultimately debunked and disproven before.”

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