Federal Charges Filed Against Ex-Judge in Venezuelan Gang Case

On April 29, 2025, former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano, 67, and his wife, Nancy Cano, 68, were released from custody on a $10,000 secured bond following their arrest on April 24, 2025, for allegedly tampering with evidence related to housing a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, at their Las Cruces, New Mexico, home. The couple appeared in federal court in El Paso, Texas, at approximately 10:55 PDT on April 29, 2025, securing their release.

Federal authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), raided the Cano residence in February 2025, arresting Ortega-Lopez, a Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. illegally in December 2023. Court documents allege Ortega-Lopez, linked to the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua through tattoos, clothing, and social media posts, lived in a guesthouse on the Cano property. Joel Cano admitted to destroying Ortega-Lopez’s cellphone, believing it contained incriminating photos and videos of firearms, leading to his charge of evidence tampering. Nancy Cano faces a charge of conspiracy to tamper with evidence.

The investigation revealed Ortega-Lopez posted images with firearms, some allegedly owned by the Canos’ daughter, April. Federal agents seized three cellphones, uncovering messages confirming Ortega-Lopez’s gang affiliation. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison condemned the Canos’ actions, emphasizing efforts to dismantle Tren de Aragua, designated a foreign terrorist organization.

Cano, who resigned from the bench in March 2025, denied knowledge of Ortega-Lopez’s gang ties, claiming he first learned of the allegations during the raid. In a 23-page letter to the New Mexico Supreme Court, which permanently barred him from judicial office, Cano referred to Ortega-Lopez and two other Venezuelan migrants as “the boys,” stating they were hired for home repairs and housed after eviction.