Joel Cano Removed
Court
Dona Ana County Magistrate Court
Location
Las Cruces, NM
N/A
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0
Total Reviews
1
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Documented news articles, court records, and reports about this judge.
Published: April 25, 2025
Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife Nancy hired Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an immigrant living in the country illegally who was allegedly a member of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, for home repairs — and later let him live in their guesthouse. When federal agents investigated, they accused Cano of destroying Ortega-Lopez's cellphone to obstruct the investigation.
Federal prosecutors charged Cano with tampering with evidence; his wife was separately charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Both were arrested and released on $10,000 bond each. Cano resigned from the bench shortly after his arrest.
The New Mexico Supreme Court has ordered that Cano never hold or run for judicial office in the state again. He has since been disbarred.
Submitted: September 10, 2026
Federal prosecutors charged Cano with tampering with evidence; his wife was separately charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Both were arrested and released on $10,000 bond each. Cano resigned from the bench shortly after his arrest.
The New Mexico Supreme Court has ordered that Cano never hold or run for judicial office in the state again. He has since been disbarred.
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