A megachurch pastor from a Chicago suburb is facing federal charges relating to an alleged child sex trafficking ring.
Pastor Joram Núñez Joaquín was arrested during a Wednesday morning service last week at Cicero’s Light of the World Church. The church is part of a larger international organisation known by its Spanish name La Luz Del Mundo (LLDM).
Pastor Núñez Joaquín is named in a federal case involving other LLDM church leaders in California and Mexico.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, Núñez Joaquín is charged with engaging in a racketeering enterprise that has facilitated the sexual abuse of children and women spanning decades.
“For decades, in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere around the world, Núñez Joaquín [and others] abused the power, doctrine, and structure of the LLDM Church to threaten, coerce, and sexually abuse girls, boys, and women in the LLDM Church,” the DOJ stated.
Investigators say the defendants and co-conspirators named, which include Pastor Núñez Joaquín, used the church to commit sex trafficking and travelled to engage in forced and unlawful sex acts to produce, receive, distribute, and possess child sexual abuse material. Investigators also say the defendants set up illegal structured cash transactions and bulk cash smuggling to obstruct justice and conceal their crimes.
Authorities say Núñez Joaquín falsely identified himself as a solicitor working on behalf of the LLDM Church. He allegedly used that position to prevent and attempt to prevent victims of sexual abuse from reporting the abuse claims to law enforcement. He is currently being held in federal custody.
According to ABC 7 Chicago, Núñez Joaquín pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. His solicitor told the outlet that it is “unconscionable” that masked federal agents “arrested a pastor in front of his congregation and family” at their place of worship.
Federal prosecutors argued that Núñez Joaquín is a flight risk as the church is based in Guadalajara, Mexico. He will reportedly be transferred to the Southern District of New York.