Three Venezuelan nationals have been sentenced for possessing fraudulent Green Cards in the United States. The individuals, who entered the country illegally, will be deported following their sentencing.
Diego Jose Ibarra, known as "Gocho," aged 29, received a 48-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of fraudulent documents on July 15, 2024. Argenis Ibarra, also known as "Meny," aged 25, was sentenced to time served after admitting guilt to one count of possessing a fake document on December 10, 2024. Rosbeli Flores-Bello, or "La Gorda," aged 29, similarly received a sentence of time served on December 11, 2024.
All three are set to be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. Diego Ibarra will enter ICE custody after completing his federal prison term. His brother Argenis Ibarra and former roommate Flores-Bello will immediately be handed over to ICE. The sentences were delivered by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self III on March 19 in Athens.
During the investigation into the murder of Laken Hope Riley at the University of Georgia on February 22, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered Diego Ibarra's undocumented status in the country. Diego was apprehended by an Athens-Clarke County Police Department officer when he matched the description of a suspect linked to Riley's murder—his brother Jose Antonio Ibarra—providing a counterfeit Green Card as identification.
Diego Ibarra illegally crossed into the U.S. near El Paso, Texas on April 30, 2023. He resisted arrest when approached by U.S. Border Patrol agents and engaged in an altercation before being subdued with assistance from the National Guard.
Evidence suggests Diego is affiliated with Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan gang, due to tattoos and social media posts showing gang signs and attire. Previously removed from the U.S., he re-entered illegally and claimed asylum fearing return to Venezuela but failed to comply with immigration procedures afterward.
Argenis Ibarra also entered illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas in April 2023 but was initially returned to Mexico before re-entering near El Paso later that month. Released due to processing center space constraints in May 2023, his employment authorization applications were subsequently rejected.
Flores-Bello entered unlawfully in May 2023 via El Paso and settled in New York before moving to Athens with Jose Ibarra until Riley's murder incident.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative against illegal immigration and transnational crime organizations—investigated by HSI with assistance from FBI and local law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison led prosecution efforts for this case.