The accusations from federal authorities in Manhattan detail horrific acts committed by members of a Mexican megachurch, where victims were reportedly coerced into incestual acts while masked to conceal their identities.
Naasón Joaquín García, 56, and a high-ranking aide from La Luz Del Mundo, faced serious charges this month, including sex trafficking, child pornography, and assault, affecting victims from locations as far-reaching as New York and the UK.
The newly unsealed charges in Manhattan reaffirm earlier allegations against García, who is currently incarcerated for related sexual offenses.
García is serving a sentence of 16 years and eight months in California, stemming from a plea deal in 2022 that addressed numerous sexual abuse claims linked to his church, which claims millions of followers.
Authorities allege that García, along with his late father and grandfather, manipulated numerous followers, often with the help of family and church staff.
The indictment states, “At least once, we have suppressed minor casualties so that Samuel could rape the victims.”
On Wednesday, García was moved to federal custody as the charges were made public; coinciding with the arrest of his 79-year-old mother in Los Angeles.
García has served part of a sexual abuse sentence in California and now faces federal charges related to sex trafficking and child pornography.
According to prosecutors, many survivors of abuse within the church later became parents of subsequent victims, perpetuating a cycle of trauma.
García allegedly forced minors and women to engage in group sexual activities while he observed, which some children reportedly did not realize involved relatives due to the masks they were made to wear.
García’s attorney, Alan Jackson, described the renewed allegations as “a rehash of previously made, old claims,” asserting they are flawed and unsupported.
He characterized the government’s actions as a reckless campaign, promising to demonstrate that the charges are fundamentally unsubstantiated.
The latest federal complaint claims that García and his associate exploited church members for sexual abuse under the pretext of religious services, using threats related to spiritual punishment to ensure compliance.
Church leaders allegedly transported victims across borders to various countries, including New York, Malaysia, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Poland, and South Africa.
Sochil Martin, a former congregant supporting the investigations, expressed that many survivors are coming forward now. She alluded to her own aunt, who was abused in the 1960s, highlighting a disturbing legacy of abuse within the church.
Martin noted that the new federal charges have empowered more victims to speak out, stating, “It was a good day for her,” reflecting on her aunt’s response to the news.
She remarked, “Samuel may have left this world without facing justice, but at least his wife is witnessing the accountability now, and for many survivors, that feels like a form of justice.”
