Federal prosecutors say members of an alleged extremist Jewish sect based in Guatemala have been charged with kidnapping two children from Sullivan County and taking them to Mexico.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York says the 12-year-old and 14-year-old were taken from a home in the village of Woodridge on December 8.

Five members of the group Lev Tahor are accused of taking part in the kidnapping.

The attorney's office announced the arrests Friday after the children were found in the town of Tenango del Air in Mexico.

Six weeks earlier, officials said the children fled Guatemala and the group with their mother, who claims to be the daughter of the group's founder.

Prosecutors said it's been reported that children in Lev Tahor face physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

The children's mother said she fled the group for their safety after her brother, who's been charged in the case, took over the group.

Officials say she was granted custody for the kids when she came to the U.S.

Prosecutors say five people are all charged with kidnapping.

They're accused of either carrying out the kidnapping or helping to organize and facilitate it.

If convicted, they could all face a maximum sentence of life in prison.