This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A former New Mexico judge and his wife, accused of harboring an alleged Tren de Aragua terror organization member who was in the United States illegally, have now been arrested.
A report at the Post Millennial said the investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations initially targeted Nancy Cano, but then also involved the former judge, who has been barred from the court system by the New Mexico state Supreme Court.
"Initially, we came back here to arrest his wife, and as we started conducting our interviews and started looking at evidence, we subsequently arrested Mr. Cano as well," explained Jason T. Stevens, special agent.
The former judge, Joel Cano, was in the courts in Dona Ana County before his abrupt resignation.
Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the two are accused of conspiracy and evidence tampering. Tren de Aragua is a violent Venezuelan gang that has been designated as a foreign terror group.
The report explained, "Cano rented out property to Cristhian Oretega-Lopez, an alleged gang member, at his wife's behest last year. They met Ortega-Lopez when he was hired by the couple to do homework for them, the criminal complaint reads."
Prosecutors also charged that Cano's daughter had firearms in the home and let Ortega-Lopez pose with them, and fire them.
Ortega-Lopez, who admitted to entering the United States illegally in 2023, was arrested, and the firearms were seized weeks ago.
Stevens explained several others were living at the residence at the time, and all three, "we believe, are alleged members of that (Tren de Aragua). Obviously, we continue just to focus on the totality of the investigation instead of just zeroing out on them."
ICE stated, "On April 24, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement executed a search warrant and probable cause arrest at a residence in the 1200 block of North Reymond Street in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Homeland Security Investigations special agents working with federal law enforcement partners took Nancy Cano into custody as part of an ongoing HSI-led criminal investigation."
