Ever heard the one about the judge who forgot which side of the bench he belonged on? Former New Mexico Judge Joel Cano might need to brush up on that little detail. After resigning in disgrace last month when it was discovered he was harboring an illegal alien with cartel connections, Cano probably thought the worst was behind him. The New Mexico courts had already banned him from ever donning the black robes again – a humiliating end to his judicial career.

But as it turns out, that was just the appetizer in his three-course meal of legal troubles. The main dish was served cold this week when both Cano and his wife found themselves in handcuffs, facing charges that could land them on the other side of the judicial system for quite some time.

From The Post Millennial:

Former New Mexico judge Joel Cano and his wife Nancy Cano were arrested on Thursday after law enforcement learned that they were housing an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member.

Cano, who formerly served as a judge in Doña Ana County, and his wife, Nancy, were both taken into custody at their home, according to Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso.

Cano faces charges of tampering with evidence, and his wife is facing a conspiracy to tamper charge, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said.

From Gavel to Handcuffs

What started as an investigation into Mrs. Cano quickly expanded to include the judge himself. As Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens explained, “Initially, we came back here to arrest his wife, and as we started conducting our interviews and started looking at evidence, we subsequently arrested Mr. Cano as well.”

The investigation revealed that the couple had rented property to Cristhian Oretega-Lopez, an alleged gang member, at Nancy’s request last year. According to the criminal complaint, they met Ortega-Lopez when they hired him to do homework for them. Yes, you read that correctly – the judge and his wife apparently outsourced their homework to an illegal immigrant. Perhaps there’s a lesson about cutting corners somewhere in there.

The feds arrested Ortega-Lopez back in February, at which time he admitted to illegally entering the United States in 2023. But the story doesn’t end there – investigators discovered two more alleged Tren de Aragua members were also staying at the Cano residence. All three are now in custody.

Cartels in the Guest Bedroom

Remember when the worst houseguest problem was someone who didn’t refill the ice tray? The Canos have redefined bad houseguest judgment by apparently turning their home into a satellite location for one of South America’s most dangerous criminal organizations.

Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuela, has been expanding throughout Latin America and into the United States in recent years. Known for extreme violence, extortion, and human trafficking, the gang has become a growing concern for law enforcement agencies across the country as the border crisis continues.

It remains unclear whether the Canos were aware of their guests’ gang affiliations, though ignorance of such matters seems like a flimsy defense for someone who previously made legal decisions for a living. The criminal complaint suggests the relationship began innocently enough, but federal investigators clearly believe there’s more to the story than simple naivety. After all, how often do you invite someone doing your homework to move in?

Selfies, Guns, and Poor Decisions

If hosting gang members wasn’t problematic enough, the Canos’ adult daughter apparently allowed the houseguests to borrow more than just the WiFi password. According to the District Attorney’s Office, she had firearms in the home and permitted Ortega-Lopez to “hold, shoot, and pose with them in photos shared online.”

Nothing says “responsible gun ownership” quite like letting alleged cartel members take selfies with your firearms. These images, shared on social media, eventually became evidence in the case against the Canos. Federal authorities seized these weapons back in February during Ortega-Lopez’s arrest.

Court documents show that Cano resigned his position with the Supreme Court and Third Judicial District Court on March 31, likely hoping to put some distance between his judicial role and the brewing scandal. That strategy appears to have failed spectacularly as he now faces serious federal charges.

When those sworn to uphold our laws instead provide comfort to those breaking them, what message does that send to the communities they were meant to protect? This case represents not just a personal failure, but a troubling example of how our immigration crisis can penetrate even our justice system.

Key Takeaways:

• A former New Mexico judge and his wife have been arrested for harboring three alleged members of the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang, highlighting failures in our justice system.
• The gang members not only lived in their home but were given access to firearms belonging to the couple’s daughter, creating a serious public safety risk.
• This case demonstrates how porous borders enable dangerous gang members to infiltrate American communities – even reaching the homes of those sworn to uphold our laws.

Source: The Post Millennial