Brother of illegal Venezuelan immigrant who 'murdered nursing student Laken Riley on UGA campus' is charged with green card fraud - his FOURTH arrest since arriving in Georgia

The brother of Laken Riley's suspected killer was arrested and charged with possessing a fake green card - his fourth arrest since arriving in Georgia.

The Department of Justice announced late Friday that Diego Ibarra, 29, of Venezuela is facing federal charges for possessing a fake green card. 

Diego Ibarra is the older brother of Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, who is accused of murdering Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley, 22. 

The elder Ibarra was stopped by Athens-Clarke County police because he matched the description for the suspected killer. 

The 29-year-old is now in state custody, jail records show. 

The Department of Justice announced late Friday that Diego Ibarra, 29, of Venezuela is facing federal charges for possessing a fake green card

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, has been identified and charged with murdering nursing student Laken Riley, 22, at the University of Georgia in Athens

 Riley, 22, was found dead Thursday afternoon after her roommate reported her missing, saying she had not returned from her jog

'Ibarra is a citizen of Venezuela and was processed for expedited removal but claimed a credible fear of return to Venezuela,' the United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Georgia wrote in a statement.

'He was consequently released from immigration custody pending adjudication of his claim for asylum on April 30, 2024.'

The younger Ibarra sibling was arrested for the murder of Laken Riley in Athens - a sanctuary city - on Friday and is now being held at the Clarke County Jail and appeared before a judge Saturday morning when he was denied bond.

NewsNation reporter Ali Bradley said Ibarra, 26, is originally from Venezuela and crossed into El Paso, Texas, in September 2022.

He was released into the United States by Customs and Border Patrol because the worsening migrant crisis means they have insufficient facilities to hold all border crossers that they intercept. Cops don't believe Ibarra knew his victim.

Riley, 22, was found dead Thursday afternoon after her roommate reported her missing, saying she had not returned from her jog.

Ibarra has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.

The younger Ibarra brother who is accused of murdering the August University student appeared before a judge Saturday morning.

UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark told reporters at a press conference tonight that officers have searched Ibarra's apartment in Athens and evidence shows that he acted alone.

Officials confirmed that Ibarra is not a US citizen and did not know or have any kind of relationship with Riley

'He did not know her at all. I think this is a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual and bad things happened,' Clark said.

'The evidence is robust. It is supported by key input by the community, physical evidence and expert police work. Importantly, we were assisted by video footage from our campus security cameras network.'

He advised there was no clear history of violence for the accused and his criminal history is not extensive.

During the Feb. 24 episode of NewsNation's Morning In America, National Correspondent Brian Entin reported on Ibarra's arrest.