"The longtime head of a Mexican megachurch who is serving more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing young followers has been charged with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking for allegedly victimizing members of the church for decades, authorities said Wednesday. A federal grand jury in New York returned the indictment alleging that Naason Joaquin Garcia, 56, and five others exploited the church for decades to enable the systemic sexual abuse of children and women"
"The newly unsealed indictment said the criminal activity included the creation of photos and videos of child sexual abuse. Garcia was taken into federal custody early Wednesday in Chino, California, where he is serving a more than 16-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2022 to two state counts. His lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Garcia is the head of La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World), which claims to have 5 million followers worldwide."
Naason Joaquin Garcia, 56, was indicted by a federal grand jury in New York on racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking charges alleging decades of victimization within La Luz del Mundo. Prosecutors say Garcia and five others exploited the church to enable systemic sexual abuse of children and women for the sexual gratification of Garcia and his father. The indictment says the criminal activity included creating photos and videos of child sexual abuse. Garcia was taken into federal custody in Chino, California, where he is serving a 16-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2022 to two state counts. La Luz del Mundo claims five million followers and considers Garcia its apostle.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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