Accused of Evidence Tampering: Previous New Mexico Judge under Investigation for Alleged Manipulation of Proof in Tren de Aragua Case
Updated Article:
News flash:
Former NM judge and wife, charged with tampering evidence for a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member
In a surprising turn of events, a former Dona Ana County Division 6 magistrate, Joel Cano, was arrested by federal Homeland Security Investigations agents on Thursday. The arrest followed allegations that he destroyed evidence in a federal investigation into a Venezuelan man accused of being in the U.S. illegally and residing in a back house on Cano's property in Las Cruces.
The criminal complaint, filed on Friday, implies Cano's involvement in sheltering a member of the notorious Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang. His arrest came a day before Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI for obstructing federal authorities seeking to detain an undocumented immigrant.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi linked these cases under the Trump administration's mission of zero tolerance for illegal immigration and any judges aiding such individuals. According to Fox News, Bondi stated, "We're sending a very strong message today. If you are harboring a fugitive, we don't care who you are... if you are helping hide one, we will come after you and we will prosecute you."
Before his arrest, Cano had given notice of resignation earlier this spring, coinciding with a search on his property by federal agents. His last day on the bench was March 21. The back house on his property allegedly housed the suspected TdA member, Cristhian Adrian Ortega-Lopez, along with two other Venezuelans in the U.S. illegally and Cano's adult daughter.
The complaint accuses Cano of destroying evidence, specifically Ortega-Lopez's cellphone, with a hammer. The phone may have contained photographs showing Ortega-Lopez's possession of weapons, some of which belonged to Cano, his wife, and their daughter.
Meanwhile, Cano's wife, Nancy Cano, was charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence on Friday. The criminal complaint claims that she instructed Ortega-Lopez to delete his Facebook account, where he had posted photos with the alleged weapons.
The Tren de Aragua, also known as Aragua Train, is a transnational organized crime group from Venezuela involved in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, forced prostitution, kidnappings, and money laundering. The U.S. government designated it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025.
It's not clear if the Canos have legal representation for this matter. As of now, their phone numbers are out of service, and there's no response from their insurance firm, Cano Insurance. Ortega-Lopez's legal representation is also unclear as the federal public defender's office in New Mexico has not commented on the matter yet.
A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday regarding Ortega-Lopez's case. Joel Cano was booked into Dona Ana County Detention Center without bond listed, while Nancy Cano was booked under no bond conditions as well.
- In the recent turn of events, the insurance firm, Cano Insurance, has yet to comment on the legal representation for Joel and Nancy Cano, who are facing charges.
- Despite the serious nature of the criminal charges against them, no bond has been listed for Joel Cano, who was booked into Dona Ana County Detention Center.
- Prosecutors have accused Nancy Cano of instructing Cristhian Adrian Ortega-Lopez, a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua gang, to delete his Facebook account, which allegedly contained evidence.
- The general-news and crime-and-justice sectors have been abuzz with the news of the prosecution of Joel Cano, a former judge, and his wife, Nancy, for their alleged involvement with a criminal organization like the Tren de Aragua.
