Mexican Megachurch Leaders and Family Charged with Sex Trafficking and Racketeering in US

Prosecutors in the United States have charged leaders of the Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo with alleged sexual abuse of children and women over decades. The indictment alleges that the church’s patriarchs passed down a “deeply disturbing tradition” of abuse, with each generation perpetuating the cycle. The church, which originated in Mexico and has since expanded to all 50 U.S. states and about 50 countries, now claims 5 million members worldwide.

The recently unsealed indictment in Manhattan federal court charges Naasón Joaquín García, the current leader of the church, along with five other defendants, including his mother, Eva García de Joaquín, in a widespread sex trafficking conspiracy. Prosecutors allege that the defendants engaged in a racketeering enterprise that exploited the church for decades, facilitating the systemic sexual abuse of children and women. The indictment includes claims of the creation of photos and videos depicting sadistic child sexual abuse.

Eva García de Joaquín, Samuel Joaquín Flores’ wife and Naasón’s mother, is accused of grooming her husband for sexual abuse and directly sexually abusing minors and young women for years. The indictment highlights how the church’s leadership used the congregation’s resources and labor for personal gain, including the purchase of luxury items and the construction of a sprawling home in Los Angeles.

The church’s leadership has been a family affair since its inception about 100 years ago. Eusebio “Aaron” Joaquín Gonzalez, the founder, was succeeded by his son Samuel Joaquín Flores after his death in 1964. When Samuel died in 2014, his son Naasón Joaquín García took over. The indictment suggests that the abuse and exploitation were not isolated incidents but part of a sustained pattern within the church’s leadership.

The allegations against the church’s leaders raise serious concerns about the protection of vulnerable individuals and the ethical responsibilities of religious institutions. The case underscores the importance of accountability and transparency, as highlighted in Micah 6:8, which calls for justice, mercy, and humility. As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus remains on the victims and the need for justice and healing.

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