Former members of the La Luz del Mundo (LLDM) church applauded on Wednesday the new federal charges filed by the Department of Justice against Naason Joaquin Garcia and members of his family, including the spiritual leader's mother, for criminal activities organized sex trafficking against members of the institution and sexual abuse of minors, and said they expect the arrest of other suspects.

Authorities on Wednesday carried out several raids in Los Angeles related to the new Justice Department indictment against Joaquin Garcia, 56, who was in a California prison serving a 16-year sentence for sexual abuse of minors.

In addition to Joaquin Garcia, the indictment for “sexual, financial and criminal conduct” that victimized LLDM members for many years includes Eva Garcia de Joaquin, the spiritual leader’s mother and wife of Samuel Joaquin, the former head of the church, who died in 2014.

Sharim Guzman, a former member of the Light of the World and spokesperson for a victims’ group, which includes his wife Sochil Martin, said the arrest of Joaquin Garcia’s relatives had been expected “for years,” and in particular the detention of the mother of the leader and his cousin Joram Nunez Joaquin arrested today in Chicago, Illinois.

However, the activist warned that “there are still more” members of the clan who must be investigated and detained.

“We continue waiting for complete justice to arrive. That we can one day see that this institution no longer takes advantage of its members or the governments,” said Guzman.

He also called on Mexican authorities to advance the investigations and pay attention to the complaints made in that country since 2019 by several people, including Martin.

The federal charges also include Rosa Sosa, accused of being one of Samuel Joaquin’s main accomplices in the abuses by grooming victims,a practice that would have continued with Naason Joaquin, according to court documents.

Azalia Rangel Garcia and Silem Garcia Pena complete the accusation presented this Tuesday in a federal court in New York.

Joaquin Garcia, known as “Apostol” of Jesus Christ in LLDM, was taken into federal custody again on Wednesday in California and is expected to be transferred to New York.

Sosa, Rangel Garcia and Garcia Pena are subjects of search and arrest by the authorities. The Department of Justice explained in a statement that they are believed to be in Mexico and that they will ask the authorities of that country to arrest and extradite them to face charges.

“It is time for the Mexican government to pay attention to this case and help achieve the justice that the victims deserve,” Guzman insisted.

The raid that sowed fear

As part of the operation, federal authorities raided the mansion that Joaquin Garcia’s family has in Los Angeles early Wednesday morning, near the headquarters of the Church of the Light of the World in the east of the city.

In that operation, they arrested the spiritual leader’s mother, who is expected to appear in federal court this Wednesday.

Neighbors of the headquarters confirmed that there was police activity and the presence of agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and agents from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, since dawn.

The presence of federal agents in the predominantly Latino neighborhood has sown fear in the community, which expects a new wave of immigration raids.

La Luz del Mundo, which has its international headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico, was founded in 1926 by Aaron Joaquin, Naason's grandfather. It currently claims to have about five million members around the world.