A 24-year-old father from Venezuela has been arrested for pretending to be an illegal immigrant in Ohio.
Anthony E. Labrador Sierra claims to be 16 years old and was attacked by ICE detainees who attempted to “remove him from the community” after he entered a high school near Toledo last January, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Sierra faces charges of forgery for allegedly using fake documents to enroll in school.
Currently, he remains in the U.S., with a local judge setting his bond at $50,000 and prohibiting him from leaving Wood County, Ohio. He is also required to wear an ankle monitor and must stay at least two miles away from Perrysburg High School.
“It’s unsettling to see an adult pretending to be a teenager, especially surrounding himself with minors,” someone said, expressing concern about the situation.
When asked about his living situation if released, he mentioned his baby’s mother, Emily.
According to police records, when he first contacted the school in November 2023, he claimed to have been trafficked from Venezuela and stated his birthday as December 2, 2007.
Under the name Anthony Labrador, he managed to enroll in Perrysburg High School for about 16 months before the alleged deception was uncovered.
Principal Thomas Hosler noted that Sierra was taken in by a local family after his guardianship was assigned by the Wood County Juvenile Court.
The family began questioning his age, prompting them to reach out to the school, where it was confirmed he was, in fact, a 24-year-old.
The investigation into his actions intensified after district officials came across social media posts from individuals claiming to be Sierra’s actual family.
During his time at school, Sierra participated in the swimming and soccer programs.
