Former New Mexico Judge and Wife Arrested in Federal Investigation Tied to Alleged Gang Member

A former magistrate judge from Doña Ana County, New Mexico, and his wife were taken into custody following a federal raid at their home in Las Cruces. The arrest of Joel Cano, who previously served as a judge, and his wife Nancy Cano is linked to accusations of tampering with evidence in a case involving an undocumented immigrant with suspected gang affiliations.

According to court records, the couple is accused of harboring Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a Venezuelan national believed to have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization known to operate across Latin America. Ortega-Lopez was reportedly hired by Nancy Cano to work on their property and later allowed to live in a guesthouse on the premises.

Authorities say the investigation began in February when Ortega-Lopez was detained at the Cano residence. He had entered the U.S. illegally in December 2023 near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was later released due to overcrowding at a Border Patrol facility, pending immigration proceedings.

Evidence allegedly linking Ortega-Lopez to the Tren de Aragua included clothing, tattoos, and digital communications, such as voicemails and text messages. Further searches led to the discovery of firearms at the home of the couple’s daughter, April Cano, with social media posts showing Ortega-Lopez posing with some of the weapons.

Ortega-Lopez now faces federal charges for firearm possession while being unlawfully in the country, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison under federal law.

Joel Cano resigned from his judicial role earlier this year, and the New Mexico Supreme Court has since barred him from holding any future judicial office in the state.

The case has sparked broader concerns over judicial accountability and the role of public officials in upholding the law. Local and federal authorities have emphasized the need for transparency and adherence to legal standards, particularly when it involves individuals in positions of trust.

The Department of Homeland Security has also reported ongoing efforts to crack down on gang-related activities and address concerns over leaked information that may have compromised enforcement operations.