A magistrate judge in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, has stepped down following the discovery of a suspected gang member living in a guesthouse on his property. The individual, 23-year-old Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, is believed to have ties to the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua.
Authorities arrested Ortega-Lopez during a raid on February 28 after locating him at the home of Judge Joel Cano and his wife. The judge later submitted his resignation, which took effect on March 21. The property search also led to the seizure of four firearms, and investigators later found social media posts showing the suspect handling weapons, some allegedly owned by the family.
According to initial reports, Ortega-Lopez had previously done maintenance work at the home and was invited by Nancy Cano to stay in a separate building on the premises. Law enforcement has not filed charges against the Cano family, but the incident has sparked widespread attention and raised concerns over how someone with alleged cartel affiliations ended up living at the home of a sitting judge.
While the investigation continues, the case has added to national discussions on gang activity, immigration enforcement, and the accountability of public officials. Ortega-Lopez remains in custody as federal authorities assess the next legal steps.