In an unfolding case that touches on immigration issues and gun laws, a Venezuelan national unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio, has run afoul of the law for serious firearm-related charges. Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, 24, was charged with multiple offenses, including illegal possession of a firearm by an undocumented alien, making false statements during a firearm purchase, and using false documents, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
The accusations stem from an initiative by Perrysburg Schools, which, upon discovery of Labrador-Sierra's enrollment under false pretenses, reported to local police that a man who presented himself as a student at Perrysburg High School was, in reality, a 24-year-old Venezuelan citizen. In addition to the firearm charge, Labrador-Sierra allegedly provided false information in applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization Documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2024 and 2025. The alleged perpetrator also stands accused of having submitted a fraudulent ATF Form 4473 for the purchase of a Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol, wherein he falsely claimed U.S. citizenship or nationality, according to details from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
If found guilty of these charges, Labrador-Sierra could face severe penalties. The charges include up to 15 years in prison for unlawful firearm possession by an alien, up to 10 years for false statements during the purchase of a firearm, and a maximum of five years for using fraudulent documents. The collaboration between various law enforcement agencies, such as the Perrysburg Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector−Sandusky Bay Station, the FBI Toledo Field Office, and the ATF, underscored the multi-agency commitment to these investigations.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman, with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Dobson offering his expertise. The ongoing investigation has left the door open for public involvement, encouraging anyone with additional information to step forward and contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or through their online tips page. As the process continues, it must be remembered that these are, at this stage, mere allegations. As with all in our legal system, the defendant maintains a presumption of innocence until, and if, proven guilty in the eyes of the court.
