A New Mexico Democratic judge resigned last month just days after the violent Tren de Aragua gang suspect was arrested at his residence.
On March 3, Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano wrote letters to various court staff, including Chief Judge Conrad Perea of the Third Judicial District, and announced on March 21 that he would resign from his seat.
“Working with you guys has been a very rewarding experience that I will always be grateful for,” he wrote. Albuquerque Journal.
Just three days before Kano sent his letter of resignation on February 28, Ice Agent conducted a search warrant at his home in connection with Christian Ortegalopez, a 23-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela and suspected TDA gangster who lived there.
Ortega Lopez invaded the United States by expanding a barbed wire fence near Eagle Pass, Texas, at the height of the Biden border crisis in December 2023. Breitbart It was reported citing court documents. He spent three days in a detention facility in South Laredo before being released due to overcrowding.
He then moved in El Paso with five other people, worked on construction and began doing other strange jobs. At one point he crossed the road with former Judge Cano wife Nancy Cano, offering Ortega Lopez the opportunity to live in the Casita behind the house where he shares a Las Luces, New Mexico couple.
Ortega Lopez apparently accepted the offer as he filed a request for immigration relief last April and listed the judge’s address as his current residence. Breitbart showed that the judge had “permission” him to do so.
Judge Damien Martinez initially chose to release him, but reportedly said he did not believe Justice Cano “just let everyone live in his property.”
Far from mere casual acquaintances, Ortega Lopez and Cano seem to have spent quite a bit of time together. Prosecutors featured photos and videos posted on social media showing the two posing together.
Additionally, the photos and videos revealed at least once Ortega Lopez and several other illegal aliens went to local gun ranges where they fired various firearms. One photo reportedly showed Ortega Lopez with an AR-15-style rifle and handgun fastened with a double-fised photo, but in another photo he allegedly dealt with another AR-style rifle equipped with a suppressor.
According to Breitbart, the video footage also shows Ortega Lopez firing his rifle until the bullets are gone. He then reloaded the guns in a fresh magazine and began firing them again.
During the investigation, the agents discovered a weapon cache at their home near Kano in April, where she was identified as Nancy Kano’s daughter. Prosecutors alleged that after meeting Ortega Lopez, April Cano “he held and sometimes allowed him to shoot the various firearms he owned.”
In some social media photos, Ortega Lopez can be seen carrying some of April Cano’s firearms, the Journal said. His TDA tattoo reportedly appears in both photos and videos.
Ortega-Lopez’s phone also contains images of the beheaded and severed bodies, reported Breitbart claimed he saw the horrifying image.
Ortega Lopez was arrested on February 28th and is currently facing federal charges of illegal foreigners in possession of firearms and ammunition. At the custody hearing on March 14, US Magistrate Judge Damien Martinez initially chose to release him.
Prosecutors immediately filed an appeal for his release, including a quote from Judge Martinez in their motion.
Martinez also reportedly wanted to consider whether Mrs. Cano would be considered an Ortega Lopez third-party custodian.
For now, Ortega Lopez is being held without being held at the “Doña Ana County Detention Center for Violation” [of] Federal Immigration Act” shows prison records.
Joel and Nancy Cano declined to request comment from the Journal, claiming they did not want to be in danger of any of Ortega Lopez’s pending lawsuits. It remains unclear whether any of the Canos will face fees due to their relationship with Ortega Lopez.
Joel Cano is the first former police officer to run for county magistrate position. Democrats 2010. He then maintained his seat by running without opposition in subsequent elections, including his recent re-election in 2022.
Earlier this year, the US government declared Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization.
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