A Venezuelan man has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for possessing a fraudulent Green Card during an investigation related to the murder of a nursing student. Diego Jose Ibarra, also known as "Gocho," was found guilty of two counts of possession of a fraudulent document and will be deported following his prison term. His brother, Argenis Ibarra, and former roommate Rosbeli Flores-Bello were sentenced to time served for similar charges and will also face deportation.
U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self, III issued the sentences in Athens, Georgia on March 19. The case emerged from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) into the murder of Laken Hope Riley, who was killed during a run at the University of Georgia in February 2024.
Diego Ibarra's presence in the United States came under scrutiny when he was approached by police due to his resemblance to the primary suspect in Riley's murder—his brother, Jose Antonio Ibarra. During this encounter, Diego presented a counterfeit U.S. Permanent Resident Card and was taken into custody.
Court documents reveal that Diego entered the U.S. illegally with four other Venezuelan men in April 2023 near El Paso, Texas. After being apprehended and resisting arrest, he claimed asylum but failed to comply with reporting requirements while awaiting proceedings.
Further investigation linked Diego Ibarra to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), based on tattoos and social media evidence. He had previously been removed from the U.S., only to return illegally before settling in Athens where he faced multiple arrests.
Co-defendants Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello admitted to possessing fraudulent documents discovered during searches of their shared apartment with Diego and Jose Ibarra.
The investigation involved several agencies including HSI, FBI, GBI, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, University of Georgia Police Department, and Clarke County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison prosecuted the case as part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
