A former New Mexico judge, Joel Cano, was arrested on charges of tampering with evidence related to a case against a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua gang, identified as Cristhian Adrian Ortega-Lopez. According to a criminal complaint filed on Friday, Cano allegedly destroyed a cellphone belonging to Ortega-Lopez, which was sought in connection with a federal investigation into illegal immigration and gang activity. The judge’s property reportedly housed Ortega-Lopez and two other undocumented Venezuelans.
Cano’s arrest occurred shortly after the FBI detained Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan on similar obstruction charges, highlighting a heightened federal crackdown on officials allegedly aiding undocumented immigrants. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that no one, including judges, is above the law, reiterating the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance approach toward illegal immigration.
Joel Cano resigned earlier this spring amidst the investigation, with his last day on the bench being March 21. The complaint also implicates his wife, Nancy Cano, who was arrested shortly after her husband for conspiracy to tamper with evidence. She allegedly instructed Ortega-Lopez to delete photos from his Facebook account that displayed weapons supposedly owned by the Cano family.
A separate complaint highlighted Ortega-Lopez’s illegal firearm possession, with evidence including his tattoos linking him to the gang. Although the judge initially secured bail for Ortega-Lopez, federal prosecutors later succeeded in keeping him incarcerated due to disturbing images linked to gang activity on his device.
Both Canos are currently held without bond as they await further legal proceedings. However, it remains unclear if they have legal representation.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
