PERRYSBURG, Ohio — The Venezuelan man who allegedly posed as a Perrysburg High School Student, 24-year old Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, has pleaded not guilty in federal court, after a grand jury indicted him on four federal charges.
Those charges include:
- Possession of a firearm by an Alient Unlawfully in the United States
- False statement during purchase of a firearm
- Two counts of making or using false writings or documents
Labrador-Sierra was pretending to be a student at Perrysburg High School. Labrador-Sierra enrolled at Perrysburg High School under the name and age of a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor in Jan. 2024, according to Superintendent Thomas Hosler. Hosler added the enrollment was in accordance with federal and state requirements for students experiencing homelessness or who don't have a legal guardian.
Hosler said while Labrador was enrolled between Jan. 11, 2024 and May 14, 2025, he was able to provide the following documentation, which Hosler said complicated the situation:
- Ohio driver's license and social security number
- Temporary Protective Status from the U.S. Immigration Department
- Completed and submitted a VISA application with free legal assistance
- Guardianship of a Perrysburg family, granted by Wood County Juvenile Court
The school discovered Labrador's real age when the guardians who had taken responsibility for him called the school district. The guardians said they received information he wasn't a minor but a 24-year-old man. When district administrators met with Labrador May 15 to address the claims, Labrador denied them and said his birth certificate submitted during his enrollment is correct.
The birth certificate stated he was 17 at the time of his arrest. He was taken into custody May 19 during a traffic stop.
Labrador-Sierra will stay detained and has a phone pretrial conference on Aug. 8.
