A former New Mexico judge and his wife, who are accused of harboring a Venezuelan gang member in their home, have been released from jail on bond.

Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested last month on charges of tampering with evidence after federal agents raided their Las Cruces home.

Court records show they were released on $10,000 bond each on Tuesday under certain conditions.

In January 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials received a tip that Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an alleged member of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, a designated foreign terrorist organization, “was residing with other illegal aliens in the United States unlawfully at an address located in Las Cruces, New Mexico…and was in possession of firearms,” a federal complaint states. 

Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano. (U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico)

Joel Cano resigned from his judicial position in March, and last month, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a ruling permanently barring him from holding any judicial office in the state. 

Joel and Nancy Cano face up to 15 years in prison. Fox News Digital reached out to their attorney for comment.

“The rule of law is very simple: It doesn’t matter what line of work you’re in. If you break the law, we will follow the facts, and we will prosecute you,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a video message last week.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.