MACON, Ga. — The brother of the man accused in Laken Riley's death has pleaded guilty to having a fake green card, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia said.
Diego Ibarra, 28, of Venezuela, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a fraudulent document Monday. Diego Ibarra admitted to having a fake green card, officials said. A photo of that counterfeit resident card was previously provided in a government filing.
A federal grand jury indicted Diego Ibarra earlier this year.
Diego Ibarra was accused of presenting a fake green card to police as they were investigating a college nursing student's murder. Diego Ibarra is not accused of having any connection to the killing of Riley, but his brother, Jose Ibarra, is facing murder charges.
Diego Ibarra's fake green card case and his brother's charges have been in the national spotlight following Riley's death. The Augusta University nursing student was found dead on the University of Georgia's campus on Feb. 22. Authorities said the 22-year-old died from blunt force trauma.
Two other people are also facing two counts each of possession of a fraudulent document, officials said in Monday's news release.
Diego Ibarra faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine per count, officials said. He is still being held in federal detention.
His sentencing date is set for Oct. 7. Several agencies are investigating the case.