Cristhian Ortega-Lopez/Venezuela/Illegal Firearm Possession, Evidence Tampering

Cristhian Ortega‑Lopez, a 23‑year‑old Venezuelan illegal alien and suspected Tren de Aragua gang member, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque to illegally possessing firearms and conspiring to destroy evidence. Homeland Security Investigations led the case with support from the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection after online posts showed Ortega‑Lopez handling weapons.​

Court records state that Ortega‑Lopez illegally entered the United States near Eagle Pass, Texas, on December 15, 2023, where Border Patrol agents apprehended and then released him on his own recognizance pending immigration proceedings. In January 2025, HSI received an anonymous tip that he was living in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and had access to firearms.​

Investigators later documented numerous photos and videos on his Facebook and TikTok accounts showing him displaying and shooting various firearms at a Las Cruces shooting range and other locations. Ortega‑Lopez admitted he knew it was illegal for him, as an alien unlawfully present, to possess the guns and agreed to help delete his social media to conceal evidence.​