EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A former New Mexico judge and his wife, who were arrested after reportedly allowing an alleged Tren de Aragua member to live in a small home in the back of their house in Las Cruces, were released on Tuesday, April 29, under a $10,000 secured bond after appearing in court.
As we previously reported, former Doña Ana County Magistrate Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested on Thursday, April 24, at their home on North Reymond Street in Las Cruces, Jason T. Stevens, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, said.
They were then booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center on a tampering with evidence charge.
The couple’s arrest followed the investigation in which Joel Cano rented out his “casita” to Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, who is an alleged Tren de Aragua member, at the behest of his wife last year. They met Ortega-Lopez when his wife hired him to do housework, according to a criminal complaint.
The District Attorney’s Office said Cano’s daughter had multiple firearms and let Ortega-Lopez hold, shoot, and pose with them in pictures that were posted on social media.
The feds seized those firearms and arrested Ortega-Lopez in February. Homeland Security Investigations said Ortega-Lopez admitted to entering the country illegally in 2023.
After Ortega-Lopez’s arrest, documents revealed that Joel Cano and his wife maintained communication with him and admitted to destroying evidence relating to this case.
Cano and his wife both made their initial court appearance on Friday morning, April 25, in a Las Cruces court.
And on April 29, the couple stood before Judge Gregory Fouratt at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, where they were released under the secured bond and several conditions.
Fouratt said that Cano and his wife can’t leave Doña Ana County, and all weapons and ammunition must be removed from their home. They are also forbidden to have any contact with Ortega-Lopez.
Fouratt added that the couple is allowed to live together and allowed to work. However, Joel Cano is no longer allowed to work as a judge.
As of April 29, there is no future court date scheduled.
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