Longtime Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano — a Democrat and former police officer — abruptly resigned after federal agents arrested an alleged member of the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang at a residence he owns.
The bombshell resignation letter, dated March 3, came just days after federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations raided a property tied to Cano and his wife, Nancy, arresting 23-year-old Cristhian Ortega-Lopez on federal gun charges, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
The Venezuelan national, who is in the U.S. illegally and has alleged ties to a ruthless transnational gang, was allegedly in possession of multiple firearms — including ones linked to disturbing images and videos on social media.