Diego Ibarra, the brother of a man accused of the murder of an Augusta University nursing student, has confessed to possessing a fake green card. The admission came as part of the ongoing investigations stemming from the high-profile case that has drawn significant national attention. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Diego, a Venezuelan national, presented the fraudulent document to authorities who mistook him for Laken Riley's killer during an initial encounter.
It was this encounter which led to Diego handing the police a counterfeit green card, subsequently exposing the falsified status. Moreover, he's been arrested three separate times since 2022 on charges including DUI and driving without a license, as well as shoplifting and failure to appear, as noted by 11Alive.
On the legal proceedings front, Diego pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a fraudulent document. The guilty plea holds the weight of potentially steep penalties, with the possibility of up to ten years in prison, supervised release for three years following incarceration, and a fine amounting to $250,000 per count. His sentencing has been slated for October 7, 2024.
Running parallel to Diego's troubles are speculations about his possible ties to the organized crime group Tren de Argua, based on distinctive tattoos—a five-pointed crown and star. Authorities believe these tattoos are emblematic of TdA affiliation, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Diego was arrested while working as a dishwasher at the University of Georgia, where he fraudulently gained employment using a fake green card. His legal imbroglio unfolds against the backdrop of his accused brother's more grim narrative. Jose Ibarra's alleged violent crime has placed both siblings in the vortex of a heated immigration debate, a focal point of the 2024 presidential campaign, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Meanwhile, additional charges of possession of fraudulent documents have been leveled against Argenis Ibarra, another sibling, and Rosbeli Flores-Bello, both confronting the same grave sentencing prospects as Diego. With several agencies involved, the unfolding case compounds the complexities surrounding the tragic demise of Laken Riley, whose loss has transcended personal tragedy to become a touchstone of broader societal issues.
