Additional Coverage:
Former New Mexico Judge Accused of Evidence Tampering in Gang Case
A former New Mexico judge finds himself on the wrong side of the law, accused of tampering with evidence in a case involving a suspected member of the notorious Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang.
Joel Cano, formerly of the Doña Ana County Division 6 Magistrate Court, was arrested Thursday by Homeland Security Investigations agents. The charges stem from a federal investigation into Cristhian Adrian Ortega-Lopez, a Venezuelan national accused of residing illegally in the US. Ortega-Lopez was reportedly living in a back house on Cano’s Las Cruces property.
The criminal complaint alleges that Cano destroyed a cellphone belonging to Ortega-Lopez. Federal officials believe the phone may have contained photos of Ortega-Lopez with weapons, some potentially belonging to Cano, his wife, and their daughter.
Adding another layer to this unfolding drama, Cano’s wife, Nancy Cano, faces conspiracy charges for allegedly instructing Ortega-Lopez to delete his Facebook account, which reportedly contained photos of him with the same weapons.
This case comes on the heels of another high-profile arrest involving a judge. Just a day prior, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested for allegedly obstructing federal authorities attempting to detain an undocumented immigrant.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi connected the two incidents, emphasizing the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards illegal immigration and those who aid undocumented individuals. “We’re sending a very strong message today,” Bondi stated. “If you are harboring a fugitive…anyone who is illegally in this country, we will come after you and we will prosecute you.”
Cano resigned from his judgeship in March, shortly after federal agents searched his property. Ortega-Lopez was initially released on bail into Nancy Cano’s custody, but was later detained after prosecutors presented evidence from his cellphone, including images of a decapitated body and associations with known TdA members. A hearing in Ortega-Lopez’s case is scheduled for Tuesday.
Both Joel and Nancy Cano are currently being held without bond in Doña Ana County Detention Center. Attempts to reach the Canos for comment were unsuccessful. It is unclear whether they or Ortega-Lopez have retained legal counsel.