Latest news with #DiegoIbarra
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Brothers, roommate of illegal immigrant who killed Laken Riley to be deported
The brother of Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant convicted of killing 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley Feb. 22, 2024, while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus, was sentenced to prison and deportation after he pleaded guilty to having a fake green card during the murder investigation. Diego "Gocho" Ibarra, 29, of Venezuela, was sentenced Wednesday to four years behind bars after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of a fraudulent document July 15, 2024. The sentence was above the federal sentencing guideline range, and he will not be eligible for parole. Riley's killer, Jose Ibarra, lived with his brothers — Diego and Argenis "Meny" Ibarra, 25, of Venezuela — and a female roommate, Rosbeli "La Gorda" Flores-Bello, 29, of Venezuela, in an Athens, Georgia apartment complex at the time of the murder. All four were questioned and arrested by investigators. Illegal Brother Of Laken Riley Murder Suspect Linked To Venezuelan Crime Gang Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello admitted to having fake green cards under different names Feb. 23, 2024, and pleaded guilty to possession of a fraudulent document in December 2024. However, they remained in the states. In Wednesday's ruling, U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self ordered Diego Ibarra to be placed in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the end of his federal prison sentence and ordered Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello be placed in ICE custody immediately. Read On The Fox News App According to court documents and statements, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was notified of Diego Ibarra's illegal presence in the U.S. Feb. 23, 2024, during the Laken Riley murder investigation. At the time, an Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officer searching for Jose Ibarra approached Diego Ibarra because he matched his brother's description. Diego Ibarra gave the ACCPD officer a fake green card when asked for identification and was taken into custody. Investigators later discovered his journey to the U.S. involved multiple illegal border crossings, and, once in the U.S., his criminal activity continued. He was first sent back to Mexico April 3, 2023, after he was caught illegally entering the U.S. near Eagle Pass, Texas, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Less than a month later, on April 30, 2023, he tried again to break into the country with four other Venezuelan men by crossing the border near Ysleta Station in El Paso, Texas. In a fight with United States Border Patrol (USBP) agents, Diego Ibarra grabbed and threw an agent's service radio before attempting to bite the agent. The encounter was broken up by members of the National Guard. He was taken to a hospital after complaining of chest pains and pain in his back and leg, which he attributed to scaling and falling from the border fence during his illegal crossing. After admitting his injuries were not from the fight with agents, he claimed asylum and "fear of return" to Venezuela. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) placed him in the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program May 11, 2023, and he was released from immigration custody the next day under the condition he wear a GPS ankle bracelet and report to New York pending asylum proceedings. He never showed up. Diego Ibarra's ankle monitor last "pinged" near Littleton, Colorado, May 25, 2023, and he cut it off at some point before his final arrest, according to the statement. He moved to Georgia, where he briefly worked at a UGA cafeteria, and was subsequently arrested on various charges, including DUI and driving without a license Sept. 24, 2023; shoplifting Oct. 27, 2023; and shoplifting with an outstanding arrest warrant Dec. 8, 2023. Trump Invokes Wartime Alien Enemies Act Of 1798 To Target Violent Illegal Immigrant Street Gangs ACCPD also responded to a domestic incident involving Diego Ibarra and his girlfriend Sept. 26, 2023. While jailed at the Butts County Detention Center for the fake documents found during the Riley murder investigation, Diego Ibarra caused "severe water damage" when he broke a jail cell block fire sprinkler system, according to the statement. On June 25, 2024, prison guards found Ibarra with two improvised weapons, including a sharpened sprinkler head with a makeshift grip and a pen wrapped in saran wrap. Court documents note Diego Ibarra is likely affiliated with the Venezuelan illegal immigrant street gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), based on evidence that included his multiple TdA tattoos and photos of him on social media making TdA gang signs and wearing TdA clothing. President Donald Trump on Saturday invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target TdA, designated a foreign terrorist organization Feb. 20 by the Department of State. While Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello's border-crossing backgrounds are less lengthy than Diego Ibarra's, investigators found Argenis Ibarra also entered the U.S. illegally multiple times. Laken Riley Murder: Judge Sentences College Student Killer After Family Addresses 'Monster' In Court Argenis Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally April 3, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas, and the USBP returned him to Mexico. Less than a month later, on April 30, 2023, the USBP arrested him again near El Paso, Texas, and took him to an ICE processing center in El Paso, according to the statement. He was released May 4, 2023, "because the processing center lacked space." Similarly, Flores-Bello was arrested after illegally entering the country May 3, 2023, taken to an ICE processing center in El Paso and released on May 5, 2023, "because the processing center lacked space," according to the statement. She provided a home address in New York and was scheduled for an immigration court hearing on Oct. 18, 2023, but took a humanitarian flight to Atlanta, Georgia, in December 2023 with Jose Ibarra, whom she met in New York. She settled in Athens and lived with the Ibarra brothers until Laken Riley was murdered. Jose Ibarra was convicted Nov. 20, 2024 of malice murder, three counts of felony murder and assault with intent to rape, among other charges, in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. He is serving a life sentence. Fox News Digital's Audrey Conklin contributed to this article source: Brothers, roommate of illegal immigrant who killed Laken Riley to be deported
Fox News
20-03-2025
- Fox News
Brothers, roommate of illegal immigrant who killed Laken Riley to be deported
The brother of Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant convicted of killing 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley Feb. 22, 2024, while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus, was sentenced to prison and deportation after he pleaded guilty to having a fake green card during the murder investigation. Diego "Gocho" Ibarra, 29, of Venezuela, was sentenced Wednesday to four years behind bars after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of a fraudulent document July 15, 2024. The sentence was above the federal sentencing guideline range, and he will not be eligible for parole. Riley's killer, Jose Ibarra, lived with his brothers — Diego and Argenis "Meny" Ibarra, 25, of Venezuela — and a female roommate, Rosbeli "La Gorda" Flores-Bello, 29, of Venezuela, in an Athens, Georgia apartment complex at the time of the murder. All four were questioned and arrested by investigators. Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello admitted to having fake green cards under different names Feb. 23, 2024, and pleaded guilty to possession of a fraudulent document in December 2024. However, they remained in the states. In Wednesday's ruling, U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self ordered Diego Ibarra to be placed in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the end of his federal prison sentence and ordered Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello be placed in ICE custody immediately. According to court documents and statements, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was notified of Diego Ibarra's illegal presence in the U.S. Feb. 23, 2024, during the Laken Riley murder investigation. At the time, an Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officer searching for Jose Ibarra approached Diego Ibarra because he matched his brother's description. Diego Ibarra gave the ACCPD officer a fake green card when asked for identification and was taken into custody. Investigators later discovered his journey to the U.S. involved multiple illegal border crossings, and, once in the U.S., his criminal activity continued. He was first sent back to Mexico April 3, 2023, after he was caught illegally entering the U.S. near Eagle Pass, Texas, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Less than a month later, on April 30, 2023, he tried again to break into the country with four other Venezuelan men by crossing the border near Ysleta Station in El Paso, Texas. In a fight with United States Border Patrol (USBP) agents, Diego Ibarra grabbed and threw an agent's service radio before attempting to bite the agent. The encounter was broken up by members of the National Guard. He was taken to a hospital after complaining of chest pains and pain in his back and leg, which he attributed to scaling and falling from the border fence during his illegal crossing. After admitting his injuries were not from the fight with agents, he claimed asylum and "fear of return" to Venezuela. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) placed him in the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program May 11, 2023, and he was released from immigration custody the next day under the condition he wear a GPS ankle bracelet and report to New York pending asylum proceedings. He never showed up. Diego Ibarra's ankle monitor last "pinged" near Littleton, Colorado, May 25, 2023, and he cut it off at some point before his final arrest, according to the statement. He moved to Georgia, where he briefly worked at a UGA cafeteria, and was subsequently arrested on various charges, including DUI and driving without a license Sept. 24, 2023; shoplifting Oct. 27, 2023; and shoplifting with an outstanding arrest warrant Dec. 8, 2023. ACCPD also responded to a domestic incident involving Diego Ibarra and his girlfriend Sept. 26, 2023. While jailed at the Butts County Detention Center for the fake documents found during the Riley murder investigation, Diego Ibarra caused "severe water damage" when he broke a jail cell block fire sprinkler system, according to the statement. On June 25, 2024, prison guards found Ibarra with two improvised weapons, including a sharpened sprinkler head with a makeshift grip and a pen wrapped in saran wrap. Court documents note Diego Ibarra is likely affiliated with the Venezuelan illegal immigrant street gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), based on evidence that included his multiple TdA tattoos and photos of him on social media making TdA gang signs and wearing TdA clothing. President Donald Trump on Saturday invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target TdA, designated a foreign terrorist organization Feb. 20 by the Department of State. While Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello's border-crossing backgrounds are less lengthy than Diego Ibarra's, investigators found Argenis Ibarra also entered the U.S. illegally multiple times. Argenis Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally April 3, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas, and the USBP returned him to Mexico. Less than a month later, on April 30, 2023, the USBP arrested him again near El Paso, Texas, and took him to an ICE processing center in El Paso, according to the statement. He was released May 4, 2023, "because the processing center lacked space." Similarly, Flores-Bello was arrested after illegally entering the country May 3, 2023, taken to an ICE processing center in El Paso and released on May 5, 2023, "because the processing center lacked space," according to the statement. She provided a home address in New York and was scheduled for an immigration court hearing on Oct. 18, 2023, but took a humanitarian flight to Atlanta, Georgia, in December 2023 with Jose Ibarra, whom she met in New York. She settled in Athens and lived with the Ibarra brothers until Laken Riley was murdered. Jose Ibarra was convicted Nov. 20, 2024 of malice murder, three counts of felony murder and assault with intent to rape, among other charges, in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. He is serving a life sentence.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Brothers and roommate of Laken Riley's killer to be deported after fake green card convictions
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Two brothers of the Venezuelan man who killed Georgia nursing student Laken Riley will be deported along with their former roommate after they pleaded guilty to possessing fake green cards, federal authorities say. 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. Another brother, Argenis Ibarra, 25, and their former roommate, Rosbeli Flores-Bello, 29, admitted to having fake green cards, and agents found counterfeit Social Security cards for them in the apartment they shared with Diego and Jose Ibarra, the department added in a news release. Diego Ibarra was sentenced Wednesday to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty in July to two counts of possessing a fraudulent document. He is to be transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, for deportation after he completes his sentence, the department said. Argenis and Flores-Bello each were sentenced Wednesday to time served after pleading guilty in December to one count of possessing a fraudulent document. They were to be immediately turned over to ICE for deportation, according to the news release. The statement did not elaborate on those deportation plans. 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
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Brothers, roomate of man convicted of killing Laken Riley to be deported
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 murder investigation of Riley to possessing a fraudulent Green Card. After he completes his sentence, he is to be transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, 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 U.S. in February, 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 murder 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Brother of man convicted of killing Laken Riley sentenced, to be deported
GEORGIA (WJBF) – The brother of Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan man who was convicted of killing Augusta University College of Nursing student, Laken Riley, was sentenced on Wednesday and will be deported after serving his time. According to the United States Department of Justice, Diego Ibarra, also known as 'Gocho,' 29, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison after he admitted to possessing a fraudulent Green Card during the murder investigation of Laken Riley and pled guilty to two counts of possession of a fraudulent document on July 15th, 2024. The U.S. DOJ adds that Argenis Ibarra, also known as 'Meny,' 25, also of Venezuela, was sentenced to time served after he pled guilty to one count of possession of a fraudulent document on December 10th, 2024, and Rosbeli Flores-Bello, also known as 'La Gorda,' 29, also of Venezuela, was sentenced to time served after she pled guilty to one count of possession of a fraudulent document on December 11th, 2024. ALSO ON WJBF: Body cam video released of officer-involved shooting in Augusta According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was made aware of Diego Ibarra's undocumented presence in the United States on February 23rd, 2024, during the murder investigation of Laken Riley, and at the time, an Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officer approached Diego Ibarra because he matched the description of the primary suspect in the murder investigation, which was his brother, Jose Antonio Ibarra. The documents state that during that time, Diego Ibarra gave the ACCPD officer a counterfeit U.S. Permanent Resident Card (also called a Green Card) as identification and was taken into custody. According to the U.S. DOJ, Diego Ibarra, Argenis Ibarra, and Rosbeli Flores-Bello are to be delivered to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation as 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
