A former New Mexico judge and his wife are accused of attempting to conceal incriminating pictures and recordings of an illegal immigrant suspected of belonging to Venezuela’s renowned Tren de Aragua gang, as well as harbouring other migrants, the Justice Department said Friday.

Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano, 68, and his wife, Nancy Cano, 67, were arrested Thursday after a federal raid on their Las Cruces home. The couple is facing charges of evidence tampering following allegations that they harboured Cristhian Ortega-Lopez.

“Judges are responsible for maintaining our nation’s laws. “It is beyond egregious for a former judge and his wife to tamper with evidence on behalf of a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member accused of illegally possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is determined to dismantle this foreign terrorist organisation by disrupting its criminal operations in New Mexico.” That begins with pursuing individuals who encourage gang members, including judges.

Ortega-Lopez was placed on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) radar after a tip indicated that he was illegally present in the United States and possessed firearms. He initially entered the country on December 15, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas. He was detained and later released owing to overcrowding at the US Border Patrol facility.

Ortega-Lopez appears to have shared many photographs and videos on social media of himself and other illegal immigrants handling guns at a Las Cruces shooting range, according to federal authorities. Among the weapons were a SIG Sauer P365 handgun, an AR-15 rifle with a silencer, and additional powerful firearms and ammunition.

According to authorities, his social media activity revealed content that suggested ties to the Venezuelan group, such as gang-related tattoos, hand gestures, and apparel. He allegedly derided a $5,000 incentive for catching TdA members, said to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

According to her, the images included two decapitated people.

In January, federal officials got information that Ortega-Lopez was residing with other illegal immigrants on a property owned by Cano, a judge at the time, and his wife.

During a property search on February 28, authorities confiscated four weapons.

Ortega-Lopez’s four firearms and three telephones were seized, and he was detained. Ortega-Lopez was able to make a phone call before being transferred to the Doña Ana County Detention Centre (DACDC).

He informed the agents that the phone he wished to use was not among the retrieved devices. According to prosecutors, video calls from the DACDC later revealed Nancy Cano carrying a black iPhone thought to be Ortega’s fourth phone.

Nancy Cano allegedly used the device during a March 7 chat with Ortega-Lopez to contact someone named “Michelle” over WhatsApp before enabling a FaceTime call between Michelle and Ortega-Lopez on her personal phone.

Nancy Cano and Ortega-Lopez spoke on April 20 about erasing his Facebook account, which he allegedly used to disseminate incriminating content such as gang connections and gun-related photographs.

On April 24, federal officials searched the Cano residence for Ortega-Lopez’s lost phone. During questioning, Joel Cano admitted shattering the device with a hammer five weeks prior because he felt it held incriminating images and videos of Ortega-Lopez with guns and dumping it into a skip, according to Bondi.

Authorities said a forensic study of the retrieved phones showed messages related to Ortega’s alleged criminal activity, such as links to the TdA gang and photographs of him holding guns.

Joel and Nancy Cano are facing up to 15 years in jail.

“The rule of law is really simple: it doesn’t matter what profession you’re in. “If you break the law, we will investigate the facts and prosecute you,” Bondi said in a video statement Friday.

Another judge detained in Wisconsin for allegedly interfering with the apprehension of an illegal immigrant is now facing federal charges. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, 65, allegedly confronted federal agents inside a courthouse on April 18 and ordered them to leave as they attempted to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen who had previously been deported and was recently charged with multiple counts of domestic abuse-related battery.

Flores-Ruiz allegedly hit a man 30 times and injured a lady, according to Bondi. Both victims were in court when Dugan discovered that ICE was waiting outside to arrest him.

“After being made aware of a valid immigration arrest warrant, Judge Dugan informed agents that they required a judicial warrant and directed them to the Chief Judge’s office,” the Justice Department stated in a news statement Friday. “Once the agents were no longer in the vicinity of her courtroom, Judge Dugan allegedly elected not to conduct a hearing on Flores-Ruiz’s criminal case despite the fact that victims of his offence were present and instead personally escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a restricted ‘jury door’ exit not typically used by defendants or attorneys.”

According to prosecutors, the entryway led to a nonpublic passage where Flores-Ruiz and his counsel exited Dugan’s courtroom. He was later apprehended outside the courthouse following a brief foot chase.

Dugan faces charges of obstructing procedures before a United States department or agency, as well as sheltering a person to avoid arrest. She is facing up to six years in prison.

Flores-Ruiz was deported in 2013 and unlawfully re-entered the United States, according to authorities.

“Sanctuary jurisdictions that shield criminal aliens endanger American communities,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated. “This Justice Department will not stand by while local officials prioritise politics over public safety.” Reckless sanctuary city policies create a safe haven for only one class: criminals. “Those days are over.”