Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, 24, pleaded guilty on 22/9 to multiple charges after falsifying immigration documents and claiming to be 16 to enroll at Perrysburg High School in Toledo, Ohio, in January 2024, according to the US Attorney's Office in Ohio.
The prosecutor also stated that Sierra illegally possessed a firearm purchased with false identification.
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Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra was arrested in May. Photo: Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio |
Sierra entered the US illegally from Venezuela in 2019 and was only authorized to stay until March 2020, according to court documents. His scheme began in November 2023 when he contacted Perrysburg High School, claiming he was trafficked to the US and giving his name as Anthony Labrador, born 2/12/2007.
For the next 14 months, Sierra attended classes and participated in sports with children nearly a decade younger than him at Perrysburg. He also deceived a local family into fostering him, leading them to believe they were helping a homeless teenager.
The charade unraveled in May 2025 when the foster family became suspicious of Sierra's age. They contacted the school after receiving information that he was an adult with a child also living in the US. The school then reported the case to the police.
The foster family subsequently found a prepaid cellphone, a fake ID with a 1999 birthdate, and a loaded 9mm handgun with three magazines under Sierra's mattress.
Sierra was arrested and transferred to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Prosecutors say Sierra used the fake identity to apply for a visa, obtain an Ohio driver's license, register for a Social Security number, and secure a temporary federal protection order from immigration authorities.
Sierra pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm in the US, making false statements when purchasing the weapon, and two counts of falsifying or using forged documents. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 23/1/2026 and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Tue Anh (according to Nypost)
