A 24-year-old Venezuelan man who illegally purchased a 9mm handgun while posing as a teenage high school student now faces federal charges that could lead to 15 years in prison.
Key Takeaways
- Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, 24, falsified documents to attend an Ohio high school as a teenager while illegally possessing a firearm
- Labrador-Sierra submitted false birth dates on applications for Temporary Protective Status and illegally purchased a 9mm pistol
- He has been federally indicted on charges including firearm possession by an illegal alien, making false statements during a firearm purchase, and using false documents
- The scheme was uncovered when his guardians informed school officials about his actual age after he had been enrolled and participating in school activities
- If convicted, Labrador-Sierra faces up to 15 years in prison for illegal firearm possession alone
Elaborate Deception Uncovered
Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, a 24-year-old Venezuelan national living in Perrysburg, Ohio, has been federally indicted after orchestrating an elaborate scheme to pose as a high school student. The case has sparked outrage among citizens concerned about immigration enforcement failures under the current administration. Labrador-Sierra not only managed to enroll in Perrysburg Schools under the false pretense of being a teenage unaccompanied minor but also illegally obtained a firearm while living in the United States with an expired visa.
According to federal authorities, Labrador-Sierra’s deception went beyond just attending high school. He actively participated in school sports teams and obtained legal guardianship through the Wood County Juvenile Court, which placed him with a local family. The scheme began to unravel in May when these same guardians discovered his actual age and reported the truth to school officials, triggering an investigation that revealed the full extent of his fraudulent activities.
Federal Charges and Firearms Violations
The federal indictment against Labrador-Sierra includes serious charges that highlight the dangers of lax immigration enforcement. He faces counts of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States, making false statements during a firearm purchase, and using false documentation. Most concerning to safety officials was his illegal possession of a Taurus G3C 9mm semiautomatic pistol, which he obtained by providing false information to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“A federal indictment has been issued in the case of a Venezuelan man who claimed to be several years younger than his real age and attended high school in Northwest Ohio,” U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
The case involves multiple federal agencies, including the City of Perrysburg Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, FBI Toledo Field Office, and ATF, with assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office. Initially, Ohio state authorities charged Labrador-Sierra with felony forgery, but those charges were dropped in favor of the more serious federal prosecution, reflecting the gravity of his actions in illegally obtaining a firearm while residing in the country unlawfully.
Immigration Status and System Failures
Department of Homeland Security investigators confirmed that Labrador-Sierra entered the United States legally in 2019 but overstayed his visa, making his continued presence in the country illegal. Despite this, he managed to apply for and receive Temporary Protective Status, exposing critical gaps in the vetting process for immigrants receiving protected status. Court documents reveal he submitted false birth dates on federal applications for both Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization.
“DHS told Fox News they have located Labrador Sierra’s information under a different spelling of his name. They added that Labrador Sierra is a visa overstay who first came to the U.S. in 2019,” stated by DHS.
When confronted by school administrators about his true age, Labrador-Sierra initially denied the allegations, attempting to maintain his fabricated identity. This case exemplifies the security risks posed by inadequate immigration enforcement and verification systems. If convicted, he faces severe penalties: up to 15 years in prison for illegal firearm possession, 10 years for making false statements during the firearm purchase, and an additional five years for using false documents.
Community Safety Concerns
The case has raised significant alarm in the Perrysburg community about the safety of students and the effectiveness of school enrollment verification protocols. Law enforcement officials expressed concern that an adult man was able to integrate himself into a high school environment, interacting with minors daily. Particularly troubling was his participation in school sports teams, which gave him access to locker rooms and close contact with teenage students, all while illegally possessing a firearm.
“The Perrysburg Police Department said last month that it had been contacted by the Perrysburg Local Schools about possible fraudulent activity involving one of its students,” stated by Perrysburg Police Department.
This case highlights the urgent need for stronger immigration enforcement and better verification systems in schools nationwide. The multiple failures that allowed a 24-year-old man with an expired visa to pose as a teenager, obtain protected immigration status, purchase a firearm illegally, and integrate into a high school environment represent a perfect storm of security breakdowns that put American citizens at risk. As the case proceeds through the federal court system, many are calling for a comprehensive review of both school enrollment procedures and immigration enforcement policies.
