Ohio High School Deception: 24-Year-Old Venezuelan Man Posed as Teen Student Using Fake Documents, Lived with Guardians, Played Sports, and Attended Classes for Over a Year

Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, a 24-year-old Venezuelan national, has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses after allegedly posing as a 16-year-old high school student in Ohio. Sierra enrolled at Perrysburg High School under the alias “Anthony Labrador,” claiming to be an unaccompanied minor who had been trafficked from Venezuela. He used fraudulent documents to support his false identity, including a birth certificate indicating a 2007 birthdate .

During his 14-month tenure at the school, Sierra actively participated in extracurricular activities, joining both the swimming and soccer teams. He lived with a local Perrysburg family who had obtained guardianship through the Wood County Juvenile Court, unaware of his true age and background. The deception came to light when the mother of Sierra’s child contacted the guardians, revealing his actual age and providing corroborating documents, including an Ohio driver’s license listing his birthdate as March 27, 2001 .

Following this revelation, school officials initiated an investigation and alerted law enforcement. Authorities discovered that Sierra had obtained additional documentation under false pretenses, such as a Social Security number and Temporary Protected Status. He was arrested and is currently held at the Wood County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Conditions of his bond include wearing an ankle monitor and maintaining a distance of at least two miles from Perrysburg High School .

Sierra has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Given his non-citizen status, federal immigration authorities are involved, and deportation remains a possibility. Additionally, police are investigating “questionable material” found at his former residence and issues he reportedly had at the school .

This case has raised concerns about the verification processes for student enrollment and the potential exploitation of systems designed to protect vulnerable individuals. Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of Sierra’s activities and any additional legal violations he may have committed.