FBI Arrests Ex-Dem Judge Who Allegedly Harbored Foreign Gang Member

Joel Cano, a former magistrate judge in Doña Ana County, and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested Thursday after federal agents raided their Las Cruces home.

The couple is now facing evidence tampering charges related to accusations that they harbored Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, who is suspected of being in the U.S. illegally and allegedly linked to the violent Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela, according to Fox News.

“Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens—including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up. That’s a promise.”

The charges follow a February incident in which Ortega-Lopez was apprehended at the Cano home. Court filings reveal that Nancy Cano initially employed him for home improvement tasks and later offered him accommodations in the guesthouse.

Authorities later uncovered evidence tying Ortega-Lopez to the Tren de Aragua gang, including gang-related attire, distinctive tattoos, voicemail recordings, and incriminating texts. Fox News reported that Ortega-Lopez entered the U.S. unlawfully on December 15, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas, without proper authorization or inspection.

Due to overcrowding at a Border Patrol facility, Ortega-Lopez was released three days later and issued a Notice to Appear, which began formal deportation proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The investigation also led officials to seize four firearms from the home of April Cano, the Canos’ daughter. Photos circulating on social media appeared to show Ortega-Lopez posing with some of these weapons, allegedly claiming they belonged to April.

Federal prosecutors have now charged Ortega-Lopez under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5), which prohibits undocumented immigrants from possessing firearms. If found guilty, he could face up to 15 years behind bars.

“Doña Ana County has been a hotbed of illegal immigration and drug trafficking, human smuggling for many, many years,” former ICE Field Office Director John Fabbricatore told WPMI. “To see that a judge would allow this to happen. It’s very concerning. It’s concerning. What else has the judge been doing?”

Following the incident, Joel Cano stepped down from his judicial role in March. Earlier this week, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a ruling permanently barring him from holding any judicial position in the state, Fox reported.

“The people of New Mexico are tired of a system where the powerful don’t play by their own rules,” said Amy Barela, Chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, in a statement to the Las Cruces Sun-News. “We demand real accountability for Judge Cano’s connection to a gang-affiliated criminal and full transparency on how our judiciary is being held to the same laws as the rest of us. Enough is enough.”

Just last month, Secretary Noem also revealed that DHS had identified individuals suspected of leaking sensitive details about ICE operations.

“We have identified two leakers of information here at the Department of Homeland Security who have been telling individuals about our operations and putting law enforcement lives in jeopardy,” Noem posted Friday on X. “We plan to prosecute these two individuals and hold them accountable for what they’ve done.”

“We’re going to continue to do all that we can to keep America safe,” she added.

While Noem did not disclose their names, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed to Fox News that both individuals will be charged.