Cristhian Ortega-Lopez admits to illegal firearm possession and evidence-tampering conspiracy; indictments name former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano and Nancy Cano

Organ Mountain News report

ALBUQUERQUE - A Las Cruces man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms and conspiring to destroy evidence in a case that also led to indictments of former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, on related tampering charges.

According to court records, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, 23, a Venezuelan national, posted photos and videos showing himself handling and firing guns at a Las Cruces shooting range and other locations. On Dec. 24, 2024, he appeared in posts from the home of April Cano, a social media influencer and gun enthusiast, holding a rifle while wearing a ballistic helmet with night-vision goggles. Investigators say Ortega-Lopez is a suspected member of Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization.

Agents executed search warrants on Feb. 28, 2025, and seized four firearms from April Cano’s residence. In a post-Miranda interview, Ortega-Lopez said he recognized the guns and knew he could not legally possess them, according to the plea agreement. Prosecutors say he later conspired with another person on April 20, 2025, to delete his Facebook account to prevent investigators from using the posts.

A federal grand jury separately indicted Joel Cano for conspiracy to tamper with evidence and tampering with evidence, and indicted Nancy Cano for conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Both remain on conditions of release pending trial.

Ortega-Lopez pleaded guilty to alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition and conspiracy to tamper with evidence. He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations led the case with assistance from the FBI, ATF and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, prosecutors said.