Ex-New Mexico judge, wife who allegedly harbored illegal Tren de Aragua member released on bond

A erstwhile New Mexico justice and his wife, who are accused of harboring a Venezuelan pack subordinate successful their home, person been released from jailhouse connected bond.

Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested past period connected charges of tampering with grounds aft national agents raided their Las Cruces home.

Court records amusement they were released connected $10,000 enslaved each connected Tuesday nether definite conditions.

In January 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials received a extremity that Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an alleged subordinate of the convulsive Venezuelan pack Tren de Aragua, a designated overseas violent organization, "was residing with different amerciable aliens successful the United States unlawfully astatine an code located successful Las Cruces, New Mexico…and was successful possession of firearms," a national ailment states. 

EX-NEW MEXICO JUDGE, WIFE TRIED TO HIDE EVIDENCE OF ILLEGAL ALIEN GANGBANGER, DOJ PROSECUTORS SAY

Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano, 68, and his wife, Nancy Cano, 67, are accused of harboring Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an amerciable migrant and alleged subordinate of Venezuela’s notorious Tren de Aragua gang. (U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico /U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement )

"Nancy and Jose Cano are the owners of the Premises," the ailment said.

Court documents further revealed that Ortega, who entered the United States from Mexico illegally successful 2023 by climbing implicit a barbed ligament fence, was initially hired by Nancy Cano for location repairs and aboriginal offered accommodation successful the couple's guesthouse.

EX-NEW MEXICO JUDGE, WIFE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY HARBORING ILLEGAL TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBER

An HSI cause escorts erstwhile Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano retired of his location connected Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Courtesy of KFOX14)

Ortega is charged with being an amerciable migrant successful possession of a firearm and/or ammunition. 

Federal authorities searched the Canos' location connected April 24 to find Ortega-Lopez's missing phone. During questioning, Joel Cano seemingly admitted to authorities that helium destroyed Ortega's cellphone "with a hammer and discarded the remaining pieces successful the metropolis trash dumpster" earlier this year.

FBI ARRESTS WISCONSIN JUDGE, ALLEGING SHE OBSTRUCTED ARREST OF ILLEGAL ALIEN

Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested past period connected charges of tampering with grounds aft national agents raided their Las Cruces, New Mexico, home. (Doña Ana County Detention Center)

"Specifically, Jose Cano stated that helium destroyed the cellphone and further admitted that helium believed the cellphone contained photos oregon videos that would bespeak negatively connected Ortega," a national ailment states. "Through further questioning, agents ascertained that Jose Cano destroyed the cellphone, believing that it contained photographs of Ortega holding firearms that Ortega had uploaded onto societal media platforms which would beryllium further incriminating grounds against him."

Federal officials seized different cellphones from Oretga that seemingly contained messages showing his "Tren de Aragua affiliation and photos of Ortega successful possession of firearms and ammunition." In societal media videos, Ortega tin allegedly beryllium seen shooting "an AR-15 benignant firearm with a suppressor" astatine metallic targets.

NEW MEXICO JUDGE RESIGNS AFTER ALLEGED TDA MEMBER ARRESTED AT HIS HOME

Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano. (U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico)

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Joel Cano resigned from his judicial presumption successful March, and past month, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a ruling permanently barring him from holding immoderate judicial bureau successful the state. 

Joel and Nancy Cano look up to 15 years successful prison. Fox News Digital reached retired to their lawyer for comment.

"The regularisation of instrumentality is precise simple: It doesn't substance what enactment of enactment you're in. If you interruption the law, we volition travel the facts, and we volition prosecute you," Attorney General Pam Bondi said successful a video connection past week.

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.