Venezuela-born man pleads guilty to posing as Ohio high school student, faces up to 30 years in federal prison
Authorities say the man used forged documents to enroll at Perrysburg High School, obtain a driver’s license and a firearm, and lived with a local family under guardianship.
Toledo, Ohio — A Venezuelan immigrant who posed as a 16-year-old student for about 14 months at Perrysburg High School pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to multiple charges, including firearm possession by an alien unlawfully in the United States and making false statements to purchase a firearm.
According to prosecutors, Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra contacted the school in November 2023, claiming he had been trafficked and that he was born on Dec. 2, 2007. He enrolled at Perrysburg High School in January 2024 under the name Anthony Labrador and attended classes and sports programs for roughly 14 months, while living with a local family under guardianship granted by Wood County Juvenile Court. The school district’s superintendent described the arrangement as a prolonged deception that exposed students and staff to a level of risk while highlighting gaps in oversight of student enrollment.
Prosecutors said the scheme began to unravel in May when guardians grew suspicious after learning information that Sierra was an adult with children. Investigators found a prepaid cellphone, a fake Michigan driver’s license bearing a 1999 birthdate, and a handgun with three loaded 9mm magazines hidden under his mattress. Federal authorities say he used the fake birthdate to apply for and obtain an Ohio driver’s license, a Social Security number, and Temporary Protected Status from U.S. immigration authorities. An immigration detainer was placed with local authorities after his arrest.
Sierra was charged with firearm possession by an alien unlawfully in the United States, making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, and two counts of making or using false writings or documents. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2026.
The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio said the case underscores ongoing federal efforts to address fraud in identity documents and firearm purchases, as well as the complexities surrounding immigration status and enforcement within the United States.