Former Doña Ana County, New Mexico, Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were taken into federal custody Thursday following an early-morning raid on their Las Cruces home. The couple now face serious charges of evidence tampering amid explosive allegations that they provided shelter to a suspected member of Venezuela’s notoriously violent Tren de Aragua gang. The arrest stems from a February encounter, when federal agents apprehended Cristhian Ortega-Lopez—an illegal alien and alleged gang affiliate—at the Canos’ residence. Ortega-Lopez, according to court documents, had been initially hired by Nancy Cano for home repairs but was later offered extended lodging in the family’s guesthouse. Federal investigators say the guesthouse became more than just a place to sleep. Evidence recovered included gang-related clothing, tattoos, voicemails, and incriminating text messages tying Ortega-Lopez to Tren de Aragua, a gang infamous for its brutal tactics across Latin America and its growing presence in the U.S. Ortega-Lopez, who illegally crossed the border near Eagle Pass, Texas, on December 15, 2023, was released just three days later due to overcrowding in a Border Patrol facility. Though issued a Notice to Appear, he quickly vanished—only to resurface in the company of a former judge. Further investigation uncovered that Ortega-Lopez had been posing on social media with firearms, some allegedly belonging to the Canos’ daughter, April. Federal agents later seized four guns from her residence. Ortega-Lopez now faces federal charges for illegal possession of firearms and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. “This is deeply disturbing,” said former ICE Field Director John Fabbricatore. “To see a former judge harboring a known gang affiliate? It shakes the public’s trust in the entire system.” Judge Cano abruptly resigned from the bench in March, and earlier this week, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a rare ruling permanently banning him from ever holding judicial office again. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem issued a warning: “If you’re here illegally and breaking the law—we will hunt you down. That’s a promise.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)