Venezuelans arrested during Laken Riley murder investigation sentenced, set for deportation

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Laken Riley

Three Venezuelan nationals arrested during the investigation into the brutal murder of nursing student Laken Riley have been sentenced and will be deported, federal authorities announced.

Diego Jose Ibarra, 29, who admitted to possessing a fraudulent Green Card, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison—above the federal sentencing guideline range—before he is turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. His brother, Argenis Ibarra, 25, and former roommate, Rosbeli Flores-Bello, 29, received time served for similar offenses and will be deported immediately.

Ties to the Murder Investigation

The case came to light during the high-profile investigation into the murder of Laken Hope Riley, 22, who was abducted and killed on Feb. 22, 2024, while jogging near the University of Georgia campus. During the manhunt for her killer, Athens-Clarke County Police officers stopped Diego Ibarra, who resembled the prime suspect—his older brother, Jose Antonio Ibarra. Diego presented a counterfeit U.S. Permanent Resident Card and was arrested.

Jose Ibarra was later convicted of Riley’s murder on Nov. 20, 2024, and is now serving a life sentence.

Illegal Entry and Criminal History

Court records show that Diego Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally twice in 2023, first being deported in April before re-entering weeks later. He resisted arrest at the border and later cut off his government-issued GPS ankle monitor. Settling in Athens, he was arrested multiple times for offenses including DUI, shoplifting, and an outstanding warrant. While in federal custody, he also damaged a jail’s fire sprinkler system and was found with makeshift weapons.

Investigators linked Diego Ibarra to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua through tattoos and social media activity.

Co-Defendants Also Entered Illegally

Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello also crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in 2023 and were released due to detention center overcrowding. Both were later found with counterfeit Green Cards and Social Security cards.