A Mexican megachurch leader now faces shocking new federal charges for forcing child victims to commit incest while wearing masks, revealing the depths of depravity within a religious organization that spans 50 countries and claims over one million followers.
Story Highlights
- Naasón Joaquín García forced children to commit incest in his presence, sometimes requiring masks to obscure their awareness
- The self-proclaimed “Apostle” led La Luz del Mundo, Mexico’s largest evangelical church with international reach
- Female church officials allegedly recruited and prepared young victims for systematic abuse
- García was sentenced to over 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple sex crimes against minors
Predator’s Religious Empire Enabled Systematic Child Abuse
Naasón Joaquín García built his criminal enterprise within La Luz del Mundo, a Mexico-based evangelical megachurch founded by his grandfather in 1926. García inherited absolute authority as the church’s international director, styling himself as the “Apostle of Jesus Christ.” This unchecked power over more than one million members across 50 countries created the perfect environment for predatory behavior. The church’s hierarchical structure and insular community allowed García to operate without oversight while trusted female officials facilitated his crimes.
Disturbing Pattern of Psychological Manipulation and Control
Federal prosecutors revealed García’s most heinous acts involved forcing child victims to commit incest while he watched, sometimes requiring them to wear masks to obscure their awareness of the horrific acts. This psychological manipulation demonstrates the calculated nature of his crimes, designed to maximize trauma while maintaining control. The indictment details how García used his religious authority to convince victims that participating in these acts was God’s will, exploiting their faith to normalize unspeakable abuse.
Female Co-Conspirators Facilitated Predator’s Access to Children
Three female church officials—Alondra Ocampo, Azalea Rangel Melendez, and Susana Medina Oaxaca—stand accused of recruiting and preparing victims for García’s abuse. These women allegedly used their positions of trust within the church community to identify vulnerable children and groom them for exploitation. Their involvement highlights how religious organizations can become breeding grounds for predatory networks when leadership operates without accountability or transparency.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra launched the investigation in 2018 after receiving a tip through an online clergy abuse complaint form. The multi-year investigation culminated in García’s arrest in June 2019, along with his co-defendants. Despite the church’s attempts to portray the charges as a smear campaign, García ultimately pleaded guilty to multiple sex-related charges involving minors in June 2022.
Justice Served Despite Church’s Continued Denial Campaign
García received a sentence of 16 years and 8 months in prison, though many believe this punishment fails to reflect the full scope of his crimes and their lasting impact on victims. Church spokespeople continue defending García and calling the charges defamatory, demonstrating how religious institutions often prioritize reputation over accountability. Survivors and advocates have condemned the church’s complicity and called for broader reforms to prevent similar abuse within religious organizations.
Heinous new charges against Mexico megachurch ‘apostle’ involve kiddie incest and masks: feds https://t.co/nlJ5L0dAjL pic.twitter.com/2RiFWyOTEb
— New York Post (@nypost) September 14, 2025
This case exposes the dangerous combination of religious authority, institutional secrecy, and unchecked power that enables predators to operate with impunity. The systematic nature of the abuse, involving multiple facilitators and spanning several years, reveals how religious organizations can become criminal enterprises when leadership lacks accountability. American families must remain vigilant about protecting children from those who exploit faith and trust for evil purposes.
Sources:
LA Times: Mexico megachurch leader charged with child rape, human trafficking
