In April 2025, a recently resigned New Mexico judge, Jose Luis Cano (aka Joel Cano), and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested at their Los Cruces home for allegedly harboring a gang member of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and also allowing the gang member access to firearms. Article.
On April 25, 2025, formal charges were brought against former New Mexico judge Jose Cano in federal court for the District of New Mexico. The charges are violation of federal statute, 18 USC 1512(c)(1), tampering with evidence. According to the criminal complaint, Cano admitted to law enforcement to having destroyed a cellphone with incriminating evidence of Cano’s gang member friend, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez. According to the same criminal complaint, Cano and his wife, allowed the gang member to reside at their address. Similar charges were brought against Jose Cano’s wife, Nancy, for violation of 18 USC 1512(k), conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Copies of the criminal complaints against Jose and Nancy Cano are further.
Below is the criminal complaint against the former New Mexico judge, Jose Cano: