A Mooresville man with ties to international ministry work has been arrested in Florida and charged with multiple child sex crimes connected to alleged assaults that occurred more than two decades ago.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Luis Alberto Sosa, 36, was taken into custody last week in Palm Coast, Florida, while walking his dog. Deputies released body camera footage showing the arrest, which authorities described as part of an ongoing international child exploitation investigation.
Sosa faces over a dozen felony charges, including lewd and lascivious battery and sexual assault on minors, stemming from allegations that date back to his time as a missionary pastor in Argentina. Investigators from the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina allege that Sosa brought two teenagers from Argentina to Iredell County under temporary guardianship between 2002 and 2008, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted them.
The case was first reported to authorities in Argentina, leading to an international investigation involving U.S. and foreign law enforcement.
“This arrest shows how relentless we are when it comes to protecting children,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “Hopefully, we are educating North Carolina on how fugitives should be handled.”
Sosa remains held without bond in the Flagler County Jail as he awaits extradition to Iredell County, where he will face prosecution.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office also referenced a separate case involving Kermit Booth, another fugitive wanted for child sex crimes, who was released on a low bond in North Carolina. The statement underscored Florida’s tougher approach to handling suspects accused of child exploitation.
The investigation is ongoing and involves cooperation between Homeland Security Investigations, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, and Argentine authorities.
