Illegal Immigrant From Venezuela Faces Serious Charges

A 24-year-old man from Venezuela is staring down decades in federal prison after allegedly deceiving an Ohio high school into believing he was a teenager. He managed to pose as a 16-year-old for over a year.

Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra pleaded guilty on Monday to a series of charges after forging immigration papers and claiming to be 16 when he enrolled at Perrysburg High School in Toledo back in January 2024.

Prosecutors say Sierra, who crossed the border in 2019 and remained in the U.S. until March 2020, illegally possessed a firearm that he purchased using counterfeit documents.

The troubling scheme began in November 2023 when Sierra allegedly contacted the school, stating he had been trafficked from Venezuela and was born on December 2, 2007.

He introduced himself as Anthony Labrador and attended classes for 14 months. Reportedly, he even participated in a sports program. Some locals, who thought they were helping a homeless teen, provided him with shelter after he was placed under guardianship by Wood County Juvenile Court.

However, by May, the host family grew suspicious of his true age and alerted the school, citing concerns about his actual identity. Subsequently, Sierra’s “parents” found a firearm, a prepaid phone, a fake Michigan ID stating he was born in 1999, and loaded 9mm magazines hidden under his mattress.

After his arrest, he was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to prosecutors, Sierra used his forged birthdate to apply for various documents, including a driver’s license, a Social Security number, and even temporary protected status from U.S. immigration authorities.

He has pleaded guilty to several charges, including illegal possession of a firearm, making false statements during a firearm purchase, and creating or using false documents.

If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 30 years in prison. Sentencing is set for January 23, 2026.