A 24-year-old Venezuelan national, Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, who enrolled as a teen at Perrysburg High School in Ohio, received a two-year sentence for multiple immigration and firearms charges. U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp handed down the sentence following Labrador-Sierra’s guilty plea to possessing a firearm as an illegally present alien, making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, and using false documents. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio, Labrador-Sierra is also set for three years of supervised release and is facing a detainer from the United States Border Patrol, pending deportation after his prison term.
Investigations initiated by Perrysburg Schools led to the unraveling of Labrador-Sierra's charade as a high schooler, revealing that the supposed teen was actually a 24-year-old unlawfully living in the United States. While posing as a minor, he had used a false date of birth on federal applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization documents in 2024 and 2025. This deception came undone after local police received a tip and delved into his enrollment at Perrysburg High School.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection−Sandusky Bay Station, along with the FBI Toledo Field Office, ATF, and local law enforcement collaboratively worked to expose Labrador-Sierra’s masquerade. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman represented the prosecution as part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative targeting illegal immigration and associated crime.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio press release, Labrador-Sierra's case underscores the broader objectives of Operation Take Back America to repel the impact of illegal immigration, combat cartels, and shield communities from violence. The sentence was imposed on January 23rd, and the Department of Justice has continued to press forward with its focus on dismantling transnational criminal organizations under this national mission.
