Two former judges face federal charges for allegedly protecting illegal immigrants tied to violent crimes. In New Mexico, a retired judge and his wife stand accused of hiding a suspected gang member, while in Wisconsin, a sitting judge is charged with obstructing federal agents.
Fox News reported that former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano, 68, and his wife, Nancy Cano, 67, were arrested on Thursday, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, for allegedly harboring Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an illegal immigrant suspected of ties to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, and destroying evidence to protect him.
In a separate case, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, 65, was arrested on April 18, 2025, for allegedly helping another illegal immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, evade federal authorities. Both incidents raise serious concerns about officials abusing their authority to shield criminals.
Ortega-Lopez illegally entered the U.S. on December 15, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas. He was released from custody due to overcrowding at a Border Patrol facility. By January 2025, federal agents learned he was living on property owned by Joel and Nancy Cano.
Ortega-Lopez posted images and videos on social media showing himself and other illegal immigrants handling firearms at a Las Cruces shooting range.
The posts included a SIG Sauer P365 pistol, an AR-15 rifle with a suppressor, and other high-powered weapons. His content also displayed gang-related tattoos, hand gestures, and clothing linked to Tren de Aragua.
Some of Ortega-Lopez’s social media posts were particularly brazen. He mocked a $5,000 reward offered for information on Tren de Aragua members. Disturbingly, his account also featured images of two decapitated individuals.
On February 28, 2025, authorities searched the Cano property and seized four guns and three cellphones belonging to Ortega-Lopez. He was arrested during the raid. However, he claimed a fourth phone, not among the seized devices, was missing.
Video calls from the Doña Ana County Detention Center revealed Nancy Cano holding a black iPhone believed to be Ortega-Lopez’s missing phone. On March 7, 2025, she allegedly used it to contact someone named “Michelle” via WhatsApp and facilitated a FaceTime call between Michelle and Ortega-Lopez. These actions raised suspicions of evidence tampering.
On April 20, 2025, Nancy Cano and Ortega-Lopez discussed deleting his Facebook account, which contained incriminating content about his gang affiliations and firearms.
Federal agents searched the Cano home again on April 24, 2025, to locate the missing phone. Joel Cano admitted to smashing the iPhone with a hammer five weeks earlier, believing it held incriminating photos and videos, and discarding it in a dumpster.
Forensic analysis of the recovered phones uncovered messages linking Ortega-Lopez to Tren de Aragua and images of him with guns. Joel and Nancy Cano now face up to 15 years in prison for their alleged actions. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison condemned their conduct, stating, “Judges are responsible for upholding our country’s laws.”
Ellison further emphasized the government’s resolve, saying, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to dismantling this foreign terrorist organization.” He stressed that prosecuting those who aid gang members, including judges, is a priority. Attorney General Pam Bondi added, “If you break the law, we will prosecute you.”
In the Wisconsin case, Judge Hannah Dugan allegedly interfered with the arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen who illegally reentered the U.S. after a 2013 deportation.
Flores-Ruiz faced charges of domestic abuse, including battery against a man and a woman. On April 18, 2025, Dugan confronted federal agents attempting to arrest him in a Milwaukee courthouse.
Dugan ordered the agents to leave and demanded a judicial warrant, despite their valid immigration arrest warrant. She refused to hold a hearing on Flores-Ruiz’s criminal case, even with his victims present. Instead, she escorted him and his attorney through a restricted exit to a nonpublic hallway.
Flores-Ruiz was apprehended outside the courthouse after a brief foot chase. Dugan faces charges of obstructing federal proceedings and concealing a person to avoid arrest, with a potential six-year prison sentence. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized such actions, stating, “Sanctuary jurisdictions that shield criminal aliens endanger American communities.”
Blanche further warned that “reckless sanctuary city policies create a sanctuary for one class — criminals.” These cases underscore the dangers of officials prioritizing ideology over law enforcement. The Justice Department appears determined to hold accountable those who obstruct justice, regardless of their position.