A 24-year-old Venezuelan man is accused of posing as an unaccompanied minor in order to enroll in an Ohio high school, in a case described by school officials as “highly unusual and deceptive.”
Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, who attended Perrysburg High School for more than a year starting as an apparent 16-year-old in January 2024, was arrested during a traffic stop on felony forgery charges, school and police officials announced Tuesday.
According to Perrysburg police, Labrador, who had previously participated in the school’s JV soccer and swim teams, used fraudulent documents during the enrollment process.
The school district described the allegations as “heartbreaking” and stated that staff members and local families had tried to help someone “they believed was a vulnerable teen.” Their compassion exemplifies the best of our community. Though trust was violated, we are proud of those who chose to assist.”
Labrador was scheduled to appear in a Wood County courtroom on Tuesday. It was unclear whether he has a lawyer who can speak on his behalf.
Perrysburg Schools said in a statement that Labrador applied as an unaccompanied minor and was enrolled in accordance with federal and state requirements for students without legal guardians or who are homeless.
At the time, he provided documentation indicating that immigration authorities had granted him Temporary Protected Status and that a juvenile court had granted guardianship to a Perrysburg family, according to the school district.
According to the statement, Labrador had an Ohio driver’s license and a Social Security card.
The district claimed that the documents were falsified.
After his guardians contacted the school last week, claiming they had obtained information indicating that he was a 24-year-old adult, administrators met with Labrador, who denied the allegation and stated that the birth certificate he provided during enrollment was correct, according to the district.
According to the statement, Labrador was ordered to leave the school grounds while officials investigated the allegations and contacted local police. The school’s investigation turned up social media posts from people claiming to be Labrador’s real family, according to the district.
“This case involves highly unusual and deceptive circumstances that impacted many local, state and federal agencies,” a district spokesperson stated. “The school district has reviewed its actions regarding enrollment and is confident proper legal channels were followed to provide support for an individual presenting themselves as an unaccompanied minor as spelled out in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.”
That law, enacted in 1987, requires states to ensure that homeless youths receive the same public education as other students.
