A Venezuelan man is facing federal charges after allegedly posing as a 16-year-old to enroll in an Ohio high school using fake documents while simultaneously applying for U.S. immigration benefits under false pretenses.
At a Glance
- Anthony Labrador-Sierra, 24, posed as a teen student in Perrysburg, Ohio
- Used fake Social Security and driver’s license documents to enroll in high school
- Faces federal charges for immigration fraud and firearm possession
- Local charges were dropped as federal authorities took over
- DHS confirmed he overstayed a visa after entering the U.S. in 2019
The High School Hoax
Federal authorities have arrested Anthony Labrador-Sierra, a 24-year-old Venezuelan national, for fraudulently enrolling as a sophomore at Perrysburg High School under the guise of being 16. Using a fake Ohio driver’s license and Social Security card, he successfully infiltrated the school community, where faculty and students believed he was a vulnerable minor.
School district officials called the incident “highly unusual and deceptive,” and said Labrador-Sierra was immediately barred from school property once discrepancies emerged. Superintendent Tom Hosler emphasized the district’s swift response: “We acted and contacted law enforcement.”
Watch a report: Venezuelan Man Posed as Ohio Student.
Fraud, Firearms, and Federal Charges
In addition to the identity fraud, Labrador-Sierra is now charged with filing fraudulent Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and employment authorization applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in both 2024 and 2025. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that he has been in the U.S. unlawfully since overstaying his visa from 2019.
Worse still, Labrador-Sierra is accused of attempting to illegally obtain a firearm using falsified documentation, a federal crime that could carry up to 15 years in prison. Each fraud-related offense may carry additional 10-year sentences.
Senator Bernie Moreno criticized the broader immigration enforcement breakdown: “Unreal. Thanks to Joe Biden’s abuse of TPS, a 24-year-old illegal alien was caught pretending to be a teenager.”
Political Fallout and Public Outcry
The case has quickly escalated into a political flashpoint. Conservative voices have seized on the bizarre episode as evidence of deeper flaws in the immigration system, particularly around TPS protocols and document verification processes.
Still, Perrysburg school officials defended their community’s actions, saying many had extended compassion to who they “believed was a vulnerable teen,” describing the experience as “heartbreaking.” They emphasized that their procedures adhered to legal obligations for students lacking traditional guardianship documentation.
With Labrador-Sierra now awaiting a federal grand jury hearing, the full scope of his fraudulent activities—and how they went undetected for so long—remains under investigation by the FBI, DHS, and ICE. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
