GEORGIA (WJBF) — The brothers of Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan man who was convicted of killing Augusta University College of Nursing student, Laken Riley, were sentenced on Wednesday and will be deported along with their former roommate.
Jose Ibarra, 27, was convicted in November of murder and other crimes in Riley’s killing and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a case that became a flashpoint over immigration.
His brother, Diego Ibarra, 29, was taken into custody after he gave a counterfeit green card to a police officer investigating the February 2024 killing, the Justice Department said. He has been sentenced to serve 48 months in prison after he admitted during the death investigation to possessing a fraudulent green card.
After he completes his sentence, he is to be transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation, the Justice Department said.
Another brother, Argenis Ibarra, 25, and their former roommate, Rosbeli Flores-Bello, 29, were sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a fraudulent document in December.
Argenis and Flores-Bello were to be immediately turned over to ICE for deportation, according to a news release. The statement did not elaborate on those deportation plans.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Homeland Security became aware of Diego Ibarra’s undocumented presence in the United States in February of 2024 while investigating Riley’s death. At the time, an Athens-Clarke County Police Department officer approached Diego Ibarra because he matched the description of the primary suspect in the investigation, his brother, Jose Antonio Ibarra.
Diego Ibarra gave the officer a counterfeit green card, authorities said, and was taken into custody.
Federal authorities said they believe that Diego Ibarra is affiliated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua based on his multiple tattoos and social media photos of him making signs and wearing clothes associated with the gang.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.