A former North Carolina missions pastor was arrested in Florida last month after being accused of sexually abusing two teens between 2002-2008. Luis Sosa, 50, is being held without bond on multiple charges.
The alleged victims were 13 and 17 at the time of the alleged abuse. Sosa is accused of luring the teens from Argentina to the United States under the guise that it was a “once-in-a-lifetime” mission trip.
Public reports have not specified which, if any, church Sosa was affiliated with, but reports indicate that he “led a ministry” at the time of the abuse.
RELATED: Former Youth Pastor Granted Home Release in Sex Abuse Case; Prosecutors Push Back
The investigation spans multiple countries and multiple states within the United States.
Authorities said that Sosa was granted temporary guardianship of the teens for the duration of their travels to the United States and that he sexually assaulted both.
The victims reported Sosa’s alleged abuse of them to Argentinian authorities in August of this year, and the case was forwarded to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina through the Argentinian Consulate.
Authorities reported that as the investigation progressed, Sosa fled to Florida. He was later apprehended by authorities in Florida.
Upon being arrested and informed by sheriff’s deputies that he would be charged with human trafficking in North Carolina, Sosa said, “Oh my goodness, really?”
Sosa is facing 16 felony charges, including seven counts of sexual activity by a custodian, five counts of statutory sexual offense, two counts of human trafficking, and two counts of indecent liberties with a child.
Sosa will be extradited from Florida to North Carolina to face the charges against him.
RELATED: OK Pastor Arrested in Prostitution Sting Operation
The investigation remains ongoing.
