NEW YORK, NY – A multi-year investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) New York office, alongside lateral agencies in California and Illinois, has led to the indictment of several individuals associated with the La Luz del Mundo Church (LLDM), which authorities say the church leaders engaged in both financial and sex-related offenses involving women and children.
In a September 10th press release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), six individuals identified as Naasón Joaquín García, Rosa Sosa, Azalia Rangel García, Eva García De Joaquín, Joram Núñez Joaquín and Silem García Peña were named in an indictment alleging sexual offenses and financial crimes which “persisted for decades,” targeting members of the LLDM church.
Per a press release relating to the indictment from the Justice Department, the defendants allegedly used their positions and influence within the church to exploit their members, purportedly destroying evidence throughout the years in an effort to not attract the attention of law enforcement.
“[T]he defendants, and others known and unknown, abused the power, doctrine, and structure of La Luz Del Mundo Church…to threaten, coerce, and sexually abuse girls, boys, and women in the LLDM church; to engage in financial crimes; and to obstruct criminal investigation into their misdeeds,” the indictments opens with, adding, “The defendants and their coconspirators…executed the scheme over the course of decades, abusing generations of Church members and then destroying evidence to obstruct detection by law enforcement.”
According to authorities, the suspects engaged in a variety of horrific acts against the church members, including forced labor, sex trafficking, and the creation and distribution of child sex abuse materials.
Naasón, who is accused of carrying on the legacy of abuse started by his late father Samuel Joaquín Flores, is already serving state time in Chino, California, for prior convictions of sexual abuse of a minor. Federal authorities took Naasón into custody on September 10th so that he can face his current federal charges.
García De Joaquín was apprehended in Los Angeles, California, on the morning of September 10th and later appeared before the USDC Central District of California.
Joram Núñez Joaquín was taken into custody in Chicago, Illinois, as well on the morning of September 10th, and was set to appear before USDC Northern District of Illinois for charges outlined in the indictment.
The three other defendants named in the indictment, Rosa Sosa, Azalia Rangel García, and Silem García Peña, are all at large and believed to be hiding out in Mexico.
Federal authorities have confirmed that efforts are being taken to arrest and extradite the aforementioned individuals.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton issued a statement in light of the charges, saying, “As alleged in the Indictment, for decades, Naasón Joaquín García and the other members of the Joaquín LLDM Enterprise used their position in and the resources of the La Luz Del Mundo Church to sexually abuse girls, boys, and women.”
Emphasizing the predatory nature of the allegations, HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel shared in a statement which read, “A yearslong investigation that spanned the country and involved the support of dozens of courageous victims culminated with today’s charges stemming from decades of alleged exploitation and outright abuse of young woman and children. The defendants are accused of targeting individuals who gave LLDM Church their unquestioning trust and devotion and who in turn endured unimaginable crimes. Make no mistake, the defendants' alleged cycle of victimization ends today.”
Naasón, Sosa, Rangel García, and García De Joaquín are all facing life in prison on charges ranging from racketeering to sex trafficking, while García Peña and Núñez Joaquín face up to 20 years in federal prison solely for racketeering charges.
In a September 10th press release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), six individuals identified as Naasón Joaquín García, Rosa Sosa, Azalia Rangel García, Eva García De Joaquín, Joram Núñez Joaquín and Silem García Peña were named in an indictment alleging sexual offenses and financial crimes which “persisted for decades,” targeting members of the LLDM church.
Per a press release relating to the indictment from the Justice Department, the defendants allegedly used their positions and influence within the church to exploit their members, purportedly destroying evidence throughout the years in an effort to not attract the attention of law enforcement.
“[T]he defendants, and others known and unknown, abused the power, doctrine, and structure of La Luz Del Mundo Church…to threaten, coerce, and sexually abuse girls, boys, and women in the LLDM church; to engage in financial crimes; and to obstruct criminal investigation into their misdeeds,” the indictments opens with, adding, “The defendants and their coconspirators…executed the scheme over the course of decades, abusing generations of Church members and then destroying evidence to obstruct detection by law enforcement.”
According to authorities, the suspects engaged in a variety of horrific acts against the church members, including forced labor, sex trafficking, and the creation and distribution of child sex abuse materials.
Naasón, who is accused of carrying on the legacy of abuse started by his late father Samuel Joaquín Flores, is already serving state time in Chino, California, for prior convictions of sexual abuse of a minor. Federal authorities took Naasón into custody on September 10th so that he can face his current federal charges.
García De Joaquín was apprehended in Los Angeles, California, on the morning of September 10th and later appeared before the USDC Central District of California.
Joram Núñez Joaquín was taken into custody in Chicago, Illinois, as well on the morning of September 10th, and was set to appear before USDC Northern District of Illinois for charges outlined in the indictment.
The three other defendants named in the indictment, Rosa Sosa, Azalia Rangel García, and Silem García Peña, are all at large and believed to be hiding out in Mexico.
Federal authorities have confirmed that efforts are being taken to arrest and extradite the aforementioned individuals.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton issued a statement in light of the charges, saying, “As alleged in the Indictment, for decades, Naasón Joaquín García and the other members of the Joaquín LLDM Enterprise used their position in and the resources of the La Luz Del Mundo Church to sexually abuse girls, boys, and women.”
Emphasizing the predatory nature of the allegations, HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel shared in a statement which read, “A yearslong investigation that spanned the country and involved the support of dozens of courageous victims culminated with today’s charges stemming from decades of alleged exploitation and outright abuse of young woman and children. The defendants are accused of targeting individuals who gave LLDM Church their unquestioning trust and devotion and who in turn endured unimaginable crimes. Make no mistake, the defendants' alleged cycle of victimization ends today.”
Naasón, Sosa, Rangel García, and García De Joaquín are all facing life in prison on charges ranging from racketeering to sex trafficking, while García Peña and Núñez Joaquín face up to 20 years in federal prison solely for racketeering charges.
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Comments
2025-09-13T21:49-0400 | Comment by: James
Yes these scum use our "freedom of religion" against us and our government officials are that stupid!!!