The Brief

Six leaders of the Mexico-based La Luz del Mundo megachurch — including its current "apostle," Naasón Joaquín García, his mother and four associates — are facing federal charges of racketeering, child pornography and sex trafficking, under a recently unsealed indictment. Maximum penalties for some of the offenses include life in prison.

García, 56, has been serving a 16-year, 8-month prison sentence in California, after reaching a plea deal in 2022 on state sex abuse charges.

García was moved into federal custody on Wednesday, authorities said as the indictment was unsealed. On the same day, his mother, 79-year-old Eva García de Joaquín, was arrested in Los Angeles. His attorney says that García is innocent.

"We categorically deny these charges," García's defense attorney Alan Jackson said in a statement to NPR. "We reject the grotesque portrait painted by the government and its allies."

Get the backstory: The power of La Luz Del Mundo’s 'apostle' — even behind bars

Survivors hail 'a good day' 

Prosecutors claim the family that has led La Luz del Mundo — or "Light of the World" — for nearly 100 years also used it to facilitate sexual abuse across successive generations. The indictment alleges that García, his late father, Samuel Joaquín Flores, and grandfather Aarón Joaquin Gonzalez, who founded the church, systematically abused their followers, aided by relatives and employees.

"On at least one occasion, [Samuel's wife Eva García de Joaquín] held down a minor victim so that Samuel could rape the victim," the indictment alleges.

In many cases, girls and women abused by one leader remained in the church and became the mothers of the next leader's victims, prosecutors claim.

"So many survivors have been speaking up now" from Mexico and the U.S., Sochil Martin, 39, a former church member who has cooperated with authorities investigating García, tells NPR.

Martin says the church's elite oversaw generations of abuse, noting that her aunt, who is now in her 60s, says she was assaulted by Samuel and his wife when she was a teenager. Now the apostles' victims are welcoming news of the federal charges, she says.

"It was a good day for her," Martin says of her aunt's reaction. "Even though Samuel left this world and didn't pay his debt to society and to the kids that he abused, at least his wife is now living to see that day. And that's a form of justice for a lot of survivors."

Court documents lay out depraved crimes 

In a search of Los Angeles homes belonging to Naasón Joaquín García and his mother, Eva García de Joaquín, officers seized "well over $1 million in U.S. currency," along with foreign cash and a trove of valuables, according to federal prosecutors.

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In federal court filings, prosecutors claim García engaged in depraved and unspeakable acts against minor boys and girls and women, including rape, forced incest and what are described as "sadistic sexual rituals for his sexual gratification."

Arguing against bail for those in custody, prosecutors said in a memo that García, widely called Naasón, and others "victimized at least dozens of minor and adult LLDM Church members in Mexico, the United States, and elsewhere." Some victims were as young as 13, the document stated. It added that the leaders trafficked victims on international trips to Asia, Europe, Africa, Mexico, and the U.S. — and used the victims to help smuggle money.

Along with García and his mother, the indictment lists four other defendants:

• Joram Núñez Joaquín, 37, a relative and law school graduate. He's accused of posing as a practicing lawyer, silencing victims and witnesses, and destroying evidence;
• Silem García Peña, 43, who led the church's public relations arm and allegedly worked to prevent victims from reporting abuse;
• Rosa Sosa, 59, and Azalia Rangel García, 46, both accused of "grooming" victims and abusing minors and young women.

Núñez Joaquín was arrested on Wednesday outside Chicago; the other three defendants are believed to be at large in Mexico.

Jackson, the defense attorney, says the allegations against García are unfounded and part of a "reckless campaign of government overreach." He says the charges stem from disgruntled former congregation members, and predicts that they will be disproven in court.

Search turns up a safe hidden under a trap door

At Eva García de Joaquín's home, law enforcement officers found a trapdoor in a bedroom that concealed an underground safe and a dehumidifier. The safe held large amounts of cash along with gold coins and a USB drive, prosecutors say.

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Law enforcement officers searching the family's two adjoining homes in East Los Angeles found more than $1 million in cash, along with "numerous gold coins, pure gold and platinum pieces, luxury watches, and jewelry," prosecutors said in the detention memo.

A trapdoor was discovered under a bed in García's mother's house, revealing stairs leading to an underground compartment holding a built-in safe, according to the memo. Inside, officers found stacks of cash totaling around $220,000, jewelry, a jade-wrapped USB drive and gold coins.

The family has "access to vast internationally accessible wealth," the prosecutors said as they argued for continued detention. They also noted that one defendant, Rangel García, has been at large and is believed to be in Mexico since being named in California state charges in 2019.

The indictment seeks the forfeit of multiple properties, including three homes in Los Angeles and a rural home in San Bernardino County, Calif.

Church leaders have 'extreme' power, filmmaker says

An aerial view from 2023 shows followers of Iglesia La Luz Del Mundo (Light of the World, at center) in the streets of Guadalajara in Jalisco State, Mexico.

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The nondenominational Christian church, and Martin and other accusers' claims against it, were featured in a 2022 HBO documentary, Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo, which depicted the apostle who leads the church as having complete control over its members.

"The power that they wield is extreme," Unveiled director Jennifer Tiexiera told NPR's Here & Now in 2022. "The members believe that that's the direct connection to God himself."

Followers who speak out against the apostle or the church are ostracized and threatened with violence, according to Martin.

"It is the mafia. That's what it is," she says. "And it's disguised as a church."

Among rank-and-file members of the church, Tiexiera has said she's met many people who are intent on religious service: "It's not the membership that's wholly corrupt," she told The Los Angeles Times. "It's the hierarchy. And that breaks my heart."

Church claims to have millions of followers 

Prosecutors accuse García and his five co-defendants of producing child pornography and benefiting from forced labor – and sustaining their activities through illegal financial operations and obstructions of justice.

"They exploited the faith of their followers to prey upon them," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said as the charges were announced. "When they were confronted, they leveraged their religious influence and financial power to intimidate and coerce victims into remaining silent about the abuse they had suffered."

The federal charges follow years of investigation and help from dozens of victims — a process that is continuing, according to Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel.

"I thank the brave survivors who provided law enforcement with vital information related to these allegations," he said, "and I encourage others with helpful information to do the same."

The case in New York's Southern District is assigned to District Judge Loretta Preska, who has also handled sex-trafficking proceedings related to the late Jeffrey Epstein and his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell.

La Luz del Mundo is based in Guadalajara, Mexico, but it has substantial operations and holdings in the U.S., including a large church and residences in Los Angeles. Other churches and properties listed in court filings are in New York, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

The church currently claims more than 6 million followers and operates in more than 60 countries, according to a recent story by El Occidental, a newspaper in Guadalajara. In their indictment, U.S. prosecutors said that reliable membership numbers were not available.
Copyright 2025 NPR

The Los Angeles City Council decided Tuesday to put off the full effects of a major new state housing law by allowing low-rise apartment buildings in some neighborhoods where such housing has long been banned.

All council members voted in favor of those plans except for Traci Park, who was absent from the meeting.

California’s Senate Bill 79 is set to take effect July 1. The law overrides local limits on housing development by allowing apartment buildings between five and nine stories tall near train stations and rapid bus stops.

However, cities are allowed to postpone those changes until 2030 by developing their own incremental plans for more housing. L.A. elected leaders have chosen to delay. They’re doing so through the city’s new Low-Rise Ordinance, which aims to allow buildings up to four stories tall in 57 neighborhoods near transit lines.

Why it matters

L.A. lawmakers have tried many approaches to bring down L.A.’s high rents. But they have consistently voted to stop apartment developers from encroaching on the nearly three-quarters of city residential land reserved for single-family homes.

Pushed by state lawmakers, city leaders are now having to accept some changes in single-family neighborhoods located near public transit lines.

The reaction

Some local officials and homeowners have expressed frustration over new state limits on their ability to stop development in low-density zones. But advocates for more development said the council’s decision will help address high rents by allowing more housing in areas that have long been off-limits to new apartments.

“The City Council voted to open up high-resource single-family neighborhoods near transit stations,” said Scott Epstein, policy director with Abundant Housing L.A. “This reform is long overdue and will help build a future where Angelenos of all incomes can find homes in the neighborhoods of their choice.”

Where will the projects be allowed?

Officials with the city’s planning department said residents can see whether Low-Rise Ordinance projects will be allowed in their neighborhood by clicking on this interactive map and making two selections from the “layer list” menu: “Opportunity Station Sites Eligible for Low Rise” and “Sites Eligible for Low Rise Outside of Opportunity Station.”

The map shows that some of the areas eligible for new apartment buildings under this plan include Westside neighborhoods within a half-mile of the E Line’s Westwood/Rancho Park station, pockets of the San Fernando Valley near G Line stops, and parts of Eagle Rock along Colorado Boulevard’s planned North Hollywood to Pasadena rapid bus line.

Is this a done deal?

Both plans — the decision to delay full SB 79 implementation, and the new Low-Rise Ordinance — now go to Mayor Karen Bass for final approval. Council members are also considering some tweaks they say would help Low-Rise Ordinance projects get built.

Those changes would include letting developers build denser projects if they reserve more units for low-income renters, as well as rules that would let developers build ground-level parking instead of costlier underground parking. The council’s planning committee voted Tuesday to forward those suggestions to the full City Council for further debate.

There’s a new tool to fight illegal fireworks this Fourth of July: drones.

“A drone’s real-time aerial view can help officers assess situations faster, improve safety, support faster response times and ensure the right resources are sent where they’re needed most,” the Anaheim Police Department stated in an Instagram post.

Anaheim's department is the latest law enforcement agency using the technology to quickly identify illegal fireworks use. The Downey City Council is expected to vote Tuesday night on potential new fines and new rules that would allow local law enforcement to use drones to patrol neighborhoods for illegal fireworks usage.

How it works

Here's how the tech is put to use: Seconds after authorities receive a call reporting illegal fireworks activity, drones can take to the air, hovering above neighborhoods and businesses to find a specific location and an offender. The surveillance devices are equipped with night vision and zoom lenses that allow first responders to record high definition videos right from their Real Time Crime Center at the station.

Then, officers can determine whether to send out a patrol car or issue a citation for the incident.

Why it matters

The city’s drone usage comes as law enforcement agencies across Southern California brace for the annual flood of complaints about illegal firework use at this time of the year. Drones make the most effective use of time and resources, experts say.

“We'll typically see about 2,000 calls and about 300 related to fireworks,” Anaheim’s chief communications officer Mike Lyster explained about the Fourth of July. “It really is a better use of resources on what is always a very, very busy holiday for us.”

Drones allow officials to collect enough evidence to issue these citations. In Anaheim, the punishment starts at $1,000 and climbs to $3,000 by the third offense. But authorities say the goal is to curb illegal fireworks use altogether due to the risk of injury and wildfires.

Lyster hopes that people will think twice about using illegal fireworks this holiday — not just because of the fines — but because of its negative impact on local communities.

“The Palisades fire was ultimately started by illegal fireworks, and sadly, not in our city, but in our neighboring city, a young Anaheim girl died in an illegal fireworks incident last year,” Lyster said.

Where are drones already in use?

More cities are testing this method in order to crack down on illegal firework use. Sacramento, San Bernardino and Riverside are just a few of the other areas that have adopted this technology in recent years.

How do I know what's legal?

If you have any questions about what is legal or not in your community, a quick Google search can help.

Each county goes by different regulations for the types of fireworks you can use — if at all.

For example, parts of Anaheim allow “safe and sane” fireworks to be used only on the Fourth of July between 10 a.m and 10 p.m. This includes non-explosive, non-aerial devices like fountains, sparklers and smoke balls. State-approved fireworks will have a State Fire Marshal seal.

LAist staffer Anjanette Gile also contributed to this report.

The story first appeared on The LA Local.

Your neighborhood has a reporter. Have you met them yet?

On Saturday, coffee shops across L.A. are turning into places where you can tell a journalist exactly what’s been bugging you about your block … while drinking amazing coffee.

From Boyle Heights to Silver Lake to Inglewood to Long Beach, local reporters will be set up at neighborhood coffee shops from from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — to hear what’s on your mind. Got a tip about a pothole that’s been eating tires for years? A landlord the city keeps ignoring? A community hero nobody’s written about? We want to hear it all!

It’s part of Local News Day LA, a pop-up series organized by The LA Local that connects you with your local reporter and give you a chance to become the source instead of just the reader.

LAist has been meeting community members in person through LAist Listens tabling events by popping up at local businesses.

See below for the full list of participating media outlets and coffee shops — The LA Local and our media partners hope you’ll join us:

LAist will be joining The LA Local and other local media partners for Local News Day LA on June 27.

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Where to find a journalist

1. The LA Local – Koreatown, Pico Union, Westlake will be hosted by Open Market
2. The LA Local – Inglewood and South LA will be hosted by Asteroid Vinyl Cafe
3. Boyle Heights Beat will be hosted by Picaresca Cafe
4. CalMatters will be hosted by Yia Caffe 
5. Calo News will be hosted by Cruzita’s Deli and Cafe
6. The Eastsider will be hosted by Rosebud Coffee (Highland Park location)
7. LAist will be hosted by Cafe Calle
8. Los Angeles Radio Collective will be hosted by Spoke Bicycle Cafe
9. LA Sentinel will be hosted by Patria Coffee
10. LA Taco will be hosted by Cafecito Organico (Silverlake location)
11. LA Public Press will be hosted by Holy Grounds Coffee & Tea
12. Long Beach Post will be hosted by Wrigley Coffee
13. Q Voice News will be hosted by Hot Java
14. USC Annenberg Media will be hosted by South LA Cafe (Western location)

Come enjoy a cup of coffee (or tea) with us while supplies last. 

A coalition of 17 states and a trade association representing U.S. wholesalers and distributors have sued California to block the enforcement of a stringent recycling law that aims to reduce plastic packaging waste.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court, argues that California’s recently finalized regulations that will gradually require companies to scale back single-use plastics and ensure all packaging is recycling or compostable should be struck down. The plaintiffs called the regulations “onerous mandates” that will cause steep price increases in everyday necessities that will be passed on, at least in part, to consumers.

“Once again, California is trying to enact a policy that negatively impacts the rest of the country. If California goes unchecked, consumers will be forced to pay more for basic necessities,” Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who led the coalition, said in a news release.

The law, called the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, was enacted in 2022.

“Virtually every product packaged or shipped in plastic containers, as well as a significant number of other types of packaging materials that merely incorporate plastics, fall into the Act’s remarkable sweep,” the lawsuit said.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, which represents companies that import and distribute goods in California, also joined the lawsuit.

“California is not entitled to pronounce nationwide policies,” Eric Hoplin, the trade association’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “Because the Act extends California’s regulatory reach far beyond its borders and brings within its sweep conduct wholly unconnected to California, the Act violates principles of federalism, the horizontal separation of powers, and due process.”

The lawsuit argues the law violates both the U.S. and California constitutions. It asks the court to declare California’s law invalid and unenforceable, and halt its implementation.

The lawsuit names as defendants Zoe Heller, director of California’s recycling agency known as CalRecycle, and the Circular Action Alliance, a nonprofit involved with implementing the law.

Melanie Turner, a spokesperson for CalRecycle, said in an emailed statement that the agency does not comment on pending litigation and that it remained focused on implementing the law.

The alliance said in a statement that it was aware of the lawsuit and closely monitoring developments while at the same time working to implement the law’s “ambitious goals.”

In a May news release announcing regulations under the law, state officials said the changes would fight plastics pollution while protecting the interests of taxpayers and local governments.

“California is shifting the responsibility of managing single-use plastic and packaging onto the producers. New packaging reforms lower waste costs for communities and decrease garbage and pollution across the state,” Environmental Protection Secretary Yana Garcia said in a statement. “This approach pushes producers to innovate and design packaging that truly supports a circular economy.”

Joining Nebraska in the lawsuit were 16 other states with Republican attorneys general: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.Environmental groups also have sued over the law. A coalition that included the Natural Resources Defense Council recently filed a complaint over what it said in a news release were “weakened” final regulations for the “landmark” law.