Brother of Laken Riley’s killer sentenced to prison, deportation
ATHENS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A Venezuelan man who entered the United States illegally and who itted to possessing a fraudulent green card during the murder investigation of a 22-year-old nursing student was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison.
The man, who is the brother of the murderer of Augusta University student Laken Riley, will also be deported, as will another brother and a former roommate, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Diego Jose Ibarra, aka “Gocho,” 29, was sentenced to serve a total of 48 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a fraudulent document on July 15, 2024.
Argenis Ibarra, aka “Meny,” 25, of Venezuela, was sentenced to time served after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a fraudulent document on Dec. 10, 2024.
Rosbeli Flores-Bello, aka “La Gorda,” 29, of Venezuela, was sentenced to time served after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a fraudulent document on Dec. 11, 2024.
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All three defendants are to be delivered to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.
Diego Ibarra will be placed in ICE custody at the conclusion of his federal prison sentence, while Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello will be placed in ICE custody immediately.
U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self, III handed down the sentences Wednesday in Athens.
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Homeland Security Investigations was made aware of Deigo Ibarra’s undocumented presence in the United States on Feb. 23, 2024, during the murder investigation of Riley.
At the time, an Athens-Clarke County Police Department officer approached him because he matched the description of the primary suspect in the murder investigation, which was his brother, Jose Antonio Ibarra.
Diego Ibarra gave the officer a counterfeit green card as identification and was taken into custody.
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According to information uncovered during the investigation and provided in multiple court documents, Diego Ibarra is likely d with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, based on evidence including his multiple TdA tattoos and photos of him on social media making the TdA gang signs and wearing TdA clothing.
Co-defendants Argenis Ibarra (Diego and Jose Ibarra’s younger brother) and Flores-Bello (Deigo and Jose Ibarra’s roommate) itted to possessing fraudulent green cards. In addition, agents found counterfeit Social Security cards for Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello in the apartment they shared with Diego and Jose Ibarra.
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