Feds Arrest Former Judge Accused of Sheltering Gang Member at Home

A former New Mexico judge and his wife were arrested on Thursday after being accused of sheltering a Tren de Aragua gang member at their home.

Local news captured the raid and arrest of former Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife Nancy Cano, who were charged with tampering with evidence and conspiracy to tamper, respectively.

In footage posted by KFOX14 News, Mr. and Mrs. Cano could be seen in handcuffs next to agents from both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Cano resigned from his position in March after being accused of sheltering illegal immigrant Cristhian Ortega Lopez, a suspected member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which was designated a foreign terrorist organization by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Several photos showed Cano posing with Lopez at his home. Lopez was arrested in March and charged with possession of a firearm following a raid on the Cano residence.

“Investigators believe Lopez was hired by Nancy to work on the home and then later offered their place for Lopez to stay,” reported KFOX14. “Documents from the investigation indicate Lopez displayed clear indicators of association with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, including clothing, tattoos, voicemails, and text messages.”

On Tuesday, the New Mexico Supreme Court permanently barred Cano from ever holding judicial office in the state again.

“The people of New Mexico are tired of a system where the powerful don’t play by their own rules,” said New Mexico Republican Party chairwoman Amy Barela in a statement. “We demand real accountability for Judge Cano’s connection to a gang-affiliated criminal and full transparency on how our judiciary is being held to the same laws as the rest of us. Enough is enough.”

Watch above via KFOX14 News.