A Venezuelan national, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms and conspiring to destroy evidence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. Ortega-Lopez, 23, was identified as a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by U.S. authorities.
Court documents state that Ortega-Lopez entered the United States without authorization on December 15, 2023, and was released while awaiting removal proceedings. In January 2025, Homeland Security Investigations received an anonymous tip that he was residing in Las Cruces and had access to firearms.
Investigators found that Ortega-Lopez posted photos and videos on Facebook and TikTok displaying and handling various firearms at shooting ranges and other locations in Las Cruces. On December 24, 2024, he appeared in posts at the home of April Cano, a social media influencer and gun enthusiast, holding a rifle with tactical gear and wearing a ballistic helmet with night vision goggles. In these videos, Ortega-Lopez referred to Cano’s parents as “Patron” and “Patrona,” and informed an informant that he had received a firearm from the family as a Christmas gift.
Ortega-Lopez worked for the Cano family in exchange for housing. The family reportedly took him to shooting ranges and gave him access to their firearms.
On February 28, 2025, agents executed search warrants at April Cano’s residence and seized four firearms. During questioning after being read his Miranda rights, Ortega-Lopez admitted recognizing all four firearms and knowing his possession of them was illegal. On April 20, 2025, Ortega-Lopez conspired with another individual to delete his Facebook account in an attempt to prevent its contents from being used against him during legal proceedings.
Nancy Cano and Jose Cano were indicted this week on charges related to tampering with evidence. Nancy Cano faces one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence; Jose Cano faces charges of both conspiracy to tamper with evidence and tampering with evidence. Both remain free under certain conditions while awaiting trial dates.
Ortega-Lopez pleaded guilty to being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as conspiracy to tamper with evidence. He faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.
“Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.”
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation with support from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Senior Litigation Counsel Maria Y. Armijo, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Castellano, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Tonkin are prosecuting the case.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on countering illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and addressing violent crime through coordinated efforts involving programs like the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
