A 24-year-old man from Venezuela is accused of pretending to be a teenager to enroll in an Ohio high school, play sports, and live with an unsuspecting family. The man, identified as Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, is now facing legal trouble after his true identity was discovered.
How the Man Got Into the School
Sierra reportedly told school officials at Perrysburg High School that he was 16 years old and had been trafficked from Venezuela. He said his birthday was December 2, 2007, and used the name Anthony Labrador. Based on his story and documents, he was allowed to enroll in the school in January 2023.
He lived with a local family who took him in as his guardians through the Wood County Juvenile Court. For 14 months, he went to school, played on the swimming and soccer teams, and acted like a regular high school student.
Suspicion and Discovery
The situation started to fall apart in May 2024 when a woman came forward claiming to be the mother of Sierra’s child. She contacted the family hosting him and shared photos and documents showing that Sierra was actually 24 years old. One of the documents was an Ohio driver’s license showing his real name and a birthdate of March 27, 2001.
This led the family to notify the school, and officials opened an investigation. They also contacted the police, who began working with federal immigration authorities.
Police Investigation and Court Appearance
According to a statement by Perrysburg Police, Sierra used fake documents to enroll in school and pretend to be a minor. After confirming his real identity, he was arrested and taken to the Wood County Jail.
He appeared in court via video on Tuesday. During the hearing, he smirked at the camera while a judge set his bond at $50,000. He is not allowed to leave Wood County, must wear an ankle monitor, and must stay at least two miles away from the school.
When asked where he would stay if released, he said he would live with a woman named Emily, with whom he claimed to have children.
He Got Legal Documents and Played School Sports
While attending school, Sierra joined the swimming and soccer teams. He also managed to get several official documents, including a Social Security number, a driver’s license, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from US immigration authorities.
He even applied for a visa with the help of Advocating Opportunities, a group that helps immigrants with free legal support.
Legal Trouble and Possible Deportation
Sierra has pleaded not guilty to the charges and will be represented by a public defender. If found guilty, he could face deportation because he is not a US citizen.
Prosecutors say police are now investigating questionable items found at the home where Sierra had been staying, along with some issues he had with the school.