24-year-old man arrested for posing as 16-year-old student in Ohio

In the United States, specifically in Perrysburg, Ohio, Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, a 24-year-old Venezuelan national, was arrested for impersonating a teenager. He had enrolled at Perrysburg High School as a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor on January 19, 2024, claiming to be a victim of human trafficking. Labrador presented a Venezuelan birth certificate and other documents to support his claims. His enrollment proceeded undetected for over a year until May 14, 2025, when his guardians received a tip about his true age. The guardians, who had taken him in under the pretense of caring for a minor in need, were shocked when they were contacted by a woman asserting that Labrador was actually the father of her child and that he was 24 years old. This discovery prompted the guardians to alert the school, which took swift action to investigate the claims. They met with Labrador, who denied the allegations and maintained that the documentation he provided during enrollment was genuine. However, the school authorities subsequently directed his guardians to keep him off campus while the matter was investigated further. The Perrysburg School District, in a statement, expressed their commitment to transparency and student safety, emphasizing that the situation developed from a mishandling of enrollment processes that allowed a fraudulent student to participate in school activities, including swimming events and soccer matches. Authorities, including the police, U.S. Immigration, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, joined forces to uncover the truth regarding Labrador's identity. Ultimately, a traffic stop led to Labrador's arrest on felony forgery charges on May 19, 2025. The investigation revealed that Labrador had obtained important identifying documents while enrolled, such as a driver's license, Social Security number, and Temporary Protected Status. This case raised serious concerns about security and how institutions might inadvertently support individuals who misrepresent their identities. As the authorities proceed with charges against him, the community grapples with the implications of trust violated by an individual posing as a minor for more than a year.