Doña Ana County judge resigns after feds arrest man at home

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_47926b51-d481-4aa9-8d76-5de8cc13809b.html

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.

How about charges of accessory and harboring a fugitive?

[Old n Grumpy]

I wonder if the judge was having an affair with this guy playing and hide the baloney

[SVPete]

I posted the link to this in the Shoutbox:

When Tren de Aragua Comes to Stay? FBI Hauls NM Judge and Wife Away

https://hotair.com/tree-hugging-sister/2025/04/25/when-tren-de-aragua-comes-to-stay-fbi-hauls-nm-judge-and-wife-away-n3802127

It turns out that the judge's guest house was party central for Ortega-Lopez and his little friends, as well as a gathering place for firearms enthusiasts. They'd often go shooting with the judge's daughter, April.

This sort of thing is frowned upon by the feds.

Once all that word broke, Judge Cano was forced to resign his position. Imagine that.
...
The powers that be in the New Mexico judiciary weren't feeling the least bit benevolent when it came to forgiveness for the judge...
...
...and the New Mexico state Supreme Court permanently barred Cano from ever serving on a bench again yesterday.
...
Which is probably why, besides being banned from the judiciary yesterday, Judge Cano and his wife received a visit from the FBI, and it wasn't social.

It was all about 'hands behind your back.'

I'm wondering whether, if there were any sausage-hiding games going on, Cano's daughter was the hiding place.

So, the updates: Ortega-Lopez had several "friends" living with him in the guest house; Judge Cano can "never" be a judge again; Judge Cano and his wife got stainless steel bracelets, though if allowed bail they'll be out of the GreyBar Hotel soon, if not already.