Suspected Gang Member Living with New Mexico Judge Pleads Guilty to Weapons and Evidence Destruction Charges

A criminal illegal alien, identified as Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, who was allegedly residing with a New Mexico magistrate judge, has entered a guilty plea to charges of illegally possessing firearms and conspiring to destroy evidence. Ortega-Lopez was taken into custody at the residence of Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano on February 28, 2025. Authorities have also alleged that Judge Cano and his wife were involved in attempts to eliminate evidence following Ortega-Lopez’s arrest.

The plea agreement follows an arrest at the judge’s home, where Ortega-Lopez was reportedly living in a guesthouse. Federal authorities claim that Judge Cano and his wife had hired Ortega-Lopez for home repairs before allowing him to reside on their property. Social media posts attributed to Ortega-Lopez reportedly showed him in possession of various firearms, including an AR-15 style rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, and ammunition.

Following Ortega-Lopez’s arrest, allegations surfaced that Judge Cano deliberately destroyed a cellphone belonging to Ortega-Lopez. It is alleged that the judge smashed the device with a hammer and disposed of its remains, purportedly believing it contained incriminating photographs and videos. Nancy Cano, the judge’s wife, has also been accused of conspiring to delete Ortega-Lopez’s Facebook account in an effort to erase evidence.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Ortega-Lopez illegally entered the United States in 2023 and was subsequently released into the country. In January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) received an anonymous tip suggesting that Ortega-Lopez was living in New Mexico and possessed firearms. The department has stated its commitment to preventing individuals deemed the “worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens” from remaining in the country, asserting that government shutdowns would not impede law enforcement efforts.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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