The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed to the Daily Caller on Saturday that the brother of an immigrant arrested on suspicion of killing nursing student Laken Riley was found to be in possession of fraudulent immigration documents.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia issued a press statement Friday night regarding the brother of Jose Antonio Ybarra, 26, who was charged by Georgia authorities in connection with Riley's death. Ibarra's brother Diego, 29, was charged Friday night with “fraudulent possession of a green card,” officials said. (Related: Immigrant charged with murder in connection with college student's death)
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was made aware Friday that Diego was in the country illegally and was immediately cited by Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officers for matching the “description of a suspect” in Riley's murder investigation. reported that they had been contacted. release. Diego presented his green card to the authorities. But it turned out to be “fraudulent,” authorities admitted.
Diego Ibarra, a Venezuelan national, was released from “immigration detention” on April 30, 2023 while awaiting a decision on his asylum claim alleging “credible fear” after undergoing “expedited removal” procedures. announced that he had been released. to the Department of Justice. Ibarra was arrested three times by Athens law enforcement in 2023, authorities said.
Ybarra was first arrested by ACCPD in September 2023 on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving without a license, officials said. In October 2023, Ibarra was arrested by ACCPD on suspicion of theft by shoplifting. He was re-arrested in December 2023 for failing to appear in court for a “fingerprintable crime,” according to the release.
Authorities have not yet released updated information confirming Jose's immigration status and background. He is suspected of illegally entering the United States via El Paso, Texas, in 2022, multiple Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials told NewsNation. The newspaper said that after being detained, Jose was released by authorities due to a lack of storage space.
Jose was arrested Friday and charged by University of Georgia (UGA) police with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, interfering with a 911 call, and concealing the death of another person, according to a statement. was indicted for. UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark said in a press conference that Ybarra's “full circumstances” were unknown at the time, except that he was not a resident of the United States.
Since then, Ibara Appeared He is reportedly being held without bail in court.
Riley was found by UGA authorities after a nursing student friend contacted authorities after she failed to return from a run on campus Thursday afternoon. The 22-year-old was found and identified by authorities near an indoor field behind Herrick Lake, where he was pronounced dead of “blunt force trauma.” Officials said they found no link between Riley and Jose Ibarra and believed the attack was a “crime of opportunity.”
Diego Ybarra's case is currently under investigation with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), ACCPD, UGA Police Department, and Clark County Sheriff's Office. . He remains in state custody and could face up to 10 years in prison, the Justice Department confirmed.
