Ex-Judge, Wife into Custody After Claims of Hosting Tren de Aragua Member in Las Cruces

GONZALEZ: “Breaking news: Federal agents have raided the home of a former magistrat judge in Las Cruces, have also arrested his wife, hello. Hello, everyone, thinks for joining us, I’m Jessica Gonzalez.”
HOLGUIN: “And I’m Robert Holguin. The judge, the former judge, was also arrested today. And all of this stems from an ongoing investigation into an accused Venezuelan gang member who was living at the couple’s home in Las Cruces, and that’s where we find KFOX-14 News at 5:00’s Harrison Parker, who has exclusive video of today’s arrests. Harrison?”
PARKER: “A dramatic escalation in the case of Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy. Joel Cano being the former magistrate judge out here for Doña Ana County. We witnessed Joel Cano being arrested earlier. HSI confirming both he and his wife Nancy now facing evidence-tampering charges. They said they originally came for Nancy this morning, earlier today, and found evidence, some sort of evidence pointing, as well, to Joel. Now I’m going to step off. The scene is now empty. Earlier, this place was flooded with a federal law enforcement. Our crew capturing the moment, but earlier, he and his wife were put into handcuffs. Investigators say the couple had multiple alleged members or associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua living with them. Let’s get to that video from earlier. It’s the moment Homeland Security investigators placed Cano and his wife Nancy into handcuffs. Again, they’re both facing charges of evidence tampering at this moment. HSI telling me they could face additional charges as the investigation continues. As we’ve reported, investigators say the couple hosted Christian Ortega Lopez, who is an undocumented migrant from Venezuela. We are working to get the identity of the other two gentlemen living on the scene. Authorities say Lopez, displayed clear indicators. He was associated with TDA. They say that included clothing, tattoos, voicemails and text messages. Ortega Lopez was arrested at Cano’s back in February and accused of being in the country illegally. Earlier I spoke with neighbors about the raid.”

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PARKER: “They haven’t changed at all, the Canos, since moving here?”
GENDALL: “No, not even remotely. The now are not even remotely. I know my wife and — went to the one of the hearings for one of the boys, and there was 30, 35, 40 people there, and the judge at the outset said, ‘I’m stunned. I’ve never seen this kind of an outpouring.’ Most of the people here in the community knew the kids and we’d see them riding back and forth and they’d always wave and say hi.”
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PARKER: “Cano resigned from his position as the magistrate here in Doña Ana County last month. He did not state a reason, but the New Mexico Supreme Court has now banned him from ever holding a position like that again. I’m Harrison Parker reporting from Las Cruces, KFOX14 News at 5:00.”