24-year-old Venezuelan man accused of pretending to be teen to attend Perrysburg H.S.

PERRYSBURG, Ohio (WTVG) - A 24-year-old man from Venezuela is in the Wood County Jail on forgery charges, accused of pretending to be a teenager to enroll at Perrysburg High School.

According to a letter to parents, school officials said Anthony Labrador was arrested on charges of felony forgery by the Perrysburg Police Department on Monday. The school said he was living with two adult legal guardians, who contacted the school saying they had received information that he was not a minor.

The school said he was in possession of a Ohio’s Driver’s License, a Social Security number, a Temporary Protective Status from the U.S. Immigration Department and had submitted a completed application for a VISA with assistance of Advocating Opportunities which provides free legal assistance.

Police documents said a person claiming to be Anthony Labrador contacted the school in November 2023, claiming to be trafficked from Venezuela and now living in Perrysburg. He said he was 16 at the time and hoping to be enrolled in the school district. He claimed his birthday was December 2, 2007. In January of 2024, he provided what he claimed to be a Venezuelan birth certificate and started attending the school.

Police reports said local family was contacted about Labrador while he was completing the enrollment process as they had adopted children and housed exchange students in the past. They agreed to help Labrador and he moved into their home in March of 2024. Two months later, the family was granted temporary guardianship over Labrador. In November 2024, they were granted permanent guardianship. They helped him get a social security number and an Ohio driver’s license.

Perrysburg Police said on May 14, 2025, the mother of Labrador’s child reached out to his now “legal guardian” to disclose he was actually a 24-year-old father. She sent the guardians photos and documents, including an Ohio license under Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra with a birthday of March 27, 2001. She also included a social security card with a note that said valid for work only with DHS authorization.

At that point, local police discussed the mater with border patrol officials, who said he had an expired visa status as of 2023 and had overstayed his time in the country.

“This case involves highly unusual and deceptive circumstances that impacted many local, state and federal agencies,” superintendent Tom Hosler said in the letter. “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. We appreciate our close partnership with the Perrysburg Police Division and the swift action taken.”

Police arrested Labrador after a traffic stop on I-75 on May 19. He faced a Wood County judge on May 20 where he pleaded not guilty. The courts issued a no contact order for the school and the family who took him in.

A judge set a $50,000 bond at no 10%. If he were to post bond, he’d have to wear an ankle monitor and stay 2 miles away from the school and the household where he was staying, but he also has an immigration detainer.

He is listed as Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra in the Wood County Jail.

Police body camera footage shows the moment officers arrested Labrador, shown in the video below.

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