Judge Steps Down Amid Scandal Tied to Gang and Firearms Found

A New Mexico judge abruptly resigned after federal agents arrested a suspected Venezuelan gang member living on his property who was photographed handling firearms despite being in the country illegally.

Quick Takes

Judge Jose “Joel” Cano, a Democrat magistrate in New Mexico, resigned after ICE agents arrested a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member at his home.
The suspect, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, 23, entered the U.S. illegally in December 2023 and was living in an outbuilding on the judge’s property.
Photos showed Ortega-Lopez handling firearms at a gun range with Judge Cano, despite federal laws prohibiting illegal immigrants from possessing weapons.
Authorities discovered a cache of weapons at the home of Judge Cano’s stepdaughter, who allegedly allowed Ortega-Lopez access to firearms.
Ortega-Lopez’s phone contained disturbing images of decapitated bodies, and he remains in custody without bond for federal immigration violations.

Judge Harbors Suspected Gang Member on Property

Judge Jose “Joel” Cano, a Democratic magistrate in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, submitted his resignation after federal immigration agents arrested Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a suspected member of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, at his residence. Cano’s resignation letter came as investigators uncovered troubling connections between the judge and the 23-year-old Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally in December 2023.

Ortega-Lopez was living in a small house behind the Las Cruces home owned by Judge Cano and his wife, Nancy. Immigration records showed that Ortega-Lopez listed the judge’s address as his residence in an immigration relief request. The judge’s involvement became even more suspicious when social media evidence revealed Judge Cano and Ortega-Lopez together at various locations, including visits to a gun range where the illegal immigrant was seen handling firearms, which is prohibited by federal law.

READ NOW: New Mexico Democrat Judge Resigns After ICE Arrests Alleged Tren de Aragua Gang Member in His Home — A Democrat judge in New Mexico resigned from his bench last month after immigration agents arrested an alleged Tren de Aragua gang…https://t.co/gr2EiUS07z

— Top News by CPAC (@TopNewsbyCPAC) April 20, 2025

Weapons Cache and Disturbing Evidence

Federal agents discovered a cache of weapons at the home of April Cano, Nancy Cano’s daughter, who allegedly allowed Ortega-Lopez access to her firearms. This discovery intensified scrutiny of the judge’s connections to Ortega-Lopez. Homeland Security began investigating Ortega-Lopez in January, and on February 28, search warrants were executed at Nancy Cano’s home. During the investigation, authorities found that Ortega-Lopez’s cell phone contained disturbing images of decapitated and mutilated bodies.

Ortega-Lopez and three other Venezuelan nationals were arrested as part of a broader operation targeting illegal firearm possession. He now faces a federal charge of unlawful alien possession of a firearm and ammunition. Initially, U.S. Magistrate Judge Damian Martinez considered releasing Ortega-Lopez, but prosecutors successfully appealed the decision. Ortega-Lopez remains in custody without bond for violating federal immigration laws.

Tren de Aragua Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organization

The Tren de Aragua gang, which originated in Venezuela, has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States government under President Trump’s administration. This designation underscores the severity of having a suspected member of this organization living on a judge’s property. Ortega-Lopez was briefly detained after illegally crossing the border in December 2023 but was released due to overcrowding, highlighting ongoing issues with the current immigration system.

In his resignation letter, Judge Cano offered no explicit reason for his departure, simply stating, “Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful.” Cano, a former police officer, first ran for the magistrate position as a Democrat in 2010 and was re-elected unopposed multiple times, including in 2022. The New Mexico Supreme Court has scheduled a public hearing concerning Judge Cano, and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of his term until 2026.