A 24-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant, Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges after allegedly posing as a teenager and enrolling in a high school in Ohio. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced that Labrador-Sierra submitted false information on immigration forms and used fraudulent documents to purchase a firearm, which could lead to up to 30 years in prison.
According to the indictment, Labrador-Sierra provided a false date of birth to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2024 and 2025 to secure Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization Documents. Additionally, he was found to have possessed a Taurus G3C 9mm semiautomatic pistol, which he was not legally allowed to possess while in the U.S. illegally. The Justice Department alleges that he submitted false information to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in order to purchase the firearm.
Laborador-Sierra, who was enrolled at Perrysburg High School under the name and age of a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor, was granted an Ohio driver’s license, a Social Security card, and a work permit by the U.S. Immigration Service. He also filed a visa application with assistance from Advocating Opportunities, a legal assistance organization that provides free legal aid.
Although he had been living with a local family who believed they were helping a homeless teen, Labrador-Sierra’s true identity was revealed when the guardians contacted the school on May 14, 2025, to report that they had received information indicating he was not a minor. He denied the claim during a meeting with administrators on May 15 and was later taken into custody during a traffic stop. Labrador-Sierra ultimately pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by an alien, making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, and using false documents.
The case has sparked discussions about the complexities of verifying student identities and the potential for unauthorized individuals to exploit legal systems. Labrador-Sierra is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2026. This case underscores the ongoing challenges in immigration enforcement and the need for robust verification mechanisms to prevent fraudulent activities.