Former judge arrested after alleged gang member lived at his home

A former New Mexico judge and his wife were taken into custody by federal authorities Thursday

after letting an alleged Trende Aragua gang member live in their home. The local TV station

KFOX 14 was on scene as former Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose Cano and his wife Nancy

were arrested after ICE execute a search warrant and probable cause arrest warrant

Jose Cano was charged with tampering with evidence and Nancy Cano was charged with

conspiracy to tamper. Cano resigned as a county magistrate judge in March, and the New Mexico

Supreme Court subsequently barred him from holding judicial office ever again. Court documents reveal

the Canoes allowed Christian Ortega Lopez, an alleged Trendy Aragua gang member, to live in a

studio apartment on their property for approximately 11 months. Ortega Lopez is charged with being an

unlawful alien in possession of a firearm. Court records show he entered the United States illegally

in December 2023 and was released from Border Patrol custody due to overcrowding at the facility The court records state Homeland Security Investigations received a tip about Ortega Agents discovered photos he posted of himself at a shooting range with other immigrants in the country illegally

They said they had evidence that the group was living at the Canoe residence

They said they found firearms at Canoe's daughter's house. They also said the immigrants had tattoos, clothing, and displayed hand gestures commonly associated with Trenda Aragua

On February 20th, Trende Aragua was put on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations

On March 15th, President Trump signed an executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act

instructing federal authorities to find and remove Trende Aragua members from the United States

The cases against the Canoes and Ortega are ongoing. Ortega was in federal court trying to get the venue for his immigration case moved from Denver to El Paso

The Canoes had been supporting him throughout that effort. I'm Ray Bogan for Straight Arrow News

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