Venezuelan Man Arrested for Impersonating Ohio High School Student for Nearly Two Years
A 24-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly enrolling at Perrysburg High School under a false identity and posing as a 16-year-old student for over a year. Authorities say Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra was taken into custody on May 19, 2025, and charged with felony forgery.
Labrador enrolled at the school on January 11, 2024, claiming to be a 16-year-old unaccompanied child. His enrollment triggered standard procedures for students without guardians, including protections provided under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Throughout his time at the school, Labrador received a variety of official benefits and documentation. He was issued an Ohio driver’s license, a Social Security number, and was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by U.S. immigration officials. He also received legal assistance for a visa application and was placed under the guardianship of a Perrysburg family through the Wood County Juvenile Court.
Concerns arose on May 14, 2025, when the guardians informed school officials they suspected Labrador was not a teenager, but in fact a 24-year-old adult. Labrador denied the allegations during a meeting with district administrators, insisting the birth certificate he submitted, which listed his age as 17, was valid.
The school responded by barring Labrador from campus and launching an internal investigation. Administrators discovered social media posts indicating he was an adult, including some from people identifying themselves as his relatives. The school then contacted the Perrysburg Police Division, which initiated a formal investigation that led to his arrest four days later.
Officials described the case as one involving “multiple levels of deception” that impacted local, state, and federal agencies.
The district emphasized that it had followed legal enrollment procedures based on the documentation provided at the time. Labrador had also participated in junior varsity soccer and swim teams during his enrollment. The case has been referred to the Ohio High School Athletic Association for review.
Labrador is currently being held in the Wood County Jail with a bond set at $50,000. His first court appearance is scheduled for May 29, 2025.
