In a startling case of identity fraud, Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, a 24-year-old Venezuelan national, was arrested for allegedly posing as a 16-year-old student at Perrysburg High School in Ohio.
Authorities report that Labrador Sierra used forged documents, including a fake birth certificate, to enroll in the school in January 2024. He claimed to have been trafficked to the U.S. and was granted temporary protected status after asserting he was a homeless minor.
During his time at the school, he participated in sports and integrated into the community. The deception unraveled when a woman contacted his host family, asserting that Labrador Sierra was the father of her child and providing evidence of his true age. Following an investigation, he was charged with felony forgery and is currently held on bond, as reported in a news article.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer for his removal proceedings. The incident has prompted discussions on the vulnerabilities in the school enrollment process and the challenges in verifying the identities of unaccompanied minors.
