New Mexico Judge Resigns After Feds Arrest "Man" In His Home

The Albuquerque Journal hides the actual news here: The feds didn't just arrest a "man" he was keeping in his home.

And not just an Immigrant Man, either.

ICE came to arrest a Tren de Aragua man this judge was keeping in his home.

Doña Ana County judge resigns after feds arrest man at home

LAS CRUCES -- Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano has resigned from the bench where he has sat since 2011.

Although his resignation letter, dated March 3, did not state his reason for stepping down, it followed shortly after a man awaiting deportation proceedings, accused by federal law enforcement of being affiliated with a Venezuelan gang, was arrested at Cano's home.

Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, 23, faces federal firearm charges after Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant on Feb. 28 at a Las Cruces residence owned by Cano and his wife, Nancy.

"Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful," Cano wrote in a letter addressed to 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Conrad Perea and court staff. The letter declared his last day as March 21, which dockets show was also the last day he had hearings scheduled in court.

was first elected as a magistrate judge in 2010 and ran unopposed in three subsequent elections, winning his fourth term in 2022.

I suppose that was pretty obvious.

The details of Ortega-Lopez's arrest and prior relationship with the Cano family are addressed in federal court motions seeking Ortega-Lopez's detention. In New Mexico federal district court, prosecutors argue that Ortega-Lopez is a flight risk and a danger to the community due to an alleged criminal history, including alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela.

Court filings state that agents recovered four firearms from a neighboring home owned by April Cano, who is identified in court filings as Nancy Cano's daughter. A criminal complaint alleges Ortega-Lopez admitted to possessing and firing them, as seen in photos and videos posted on Facebook last December.

Ortega-Lopez was taken into custody along with other individuals described as roommates in court filings.

For some reason the judge introduced this guy to his daughter.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter or Pesach.

posted by Ace at 01:27 PM

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