Brother of Laken Riley’s accused killer pleads guilty to federal immigration charges

By Joe Johnson

The brother of the accused killer of nursing student Laken Riley has pleaded guilty to federal immigration charges.

Diego Ibarra, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a fraudulent document during an appearance Monday before Judge Tilman E. Self in U.S. District Court in Macon.

He is the brother of another Jose Ibarra, who is charged with the Feb. 22 murder of Riley during a sexual assault on a University of Georgia running trail.

Jose Ibarra

Laken Riley

The brothers are Venezuelan nationals who were in this country illegally.

When questioned as part of the murder investigation Diego was in possession of a counterfeit U.S. permanent resident card.

At the time, he lived with Jose and another brother, Argenis, at Argo Apartments on South Milledge Avenue in Athens.

Argenis Ibarra has also pleaded guilty to having a fake green card.

Diego faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in prison without parole when sentenced on Oct. 7.