Anthony Labrador-Sierra, a 24-year-old Venezuelan man, spent over 16 months living as a high school student in Perrysburg, Ohio—playing sports, dating teenage girls, and earning the trust of an entire school community. He used a fake birth certificate to enroll at Perrysburg High School, presenting himself as a 16-year-old migrant.
His secret unraveled last month after the mother of his child alerted his guardians and authorities. Now, he faces multiple federal charges, including possession of a firearm by an undocumented immigrant, using false documents, and lying on federal forms.
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“He had everyone fooled,” said a local mother whose children attended school with Labrador-Sierra. “He wiggled his way into everyone’s lives.”
Students, teachers, and parents accepted Labrador-Sierra as a fellow teen. He joined the junior varsity soccer and swim teams, earned the nickname “Big Tone,” and became romantically involved with several girls aged 16 and older, parents claim.
Pictures and social media posts show him playing sports and appearing in youth group events. In one TikTok video, he jokes with classmates in a school setting. One image shows him in a soccer match, competing against a 15-year-old opponent.
Despite the deception, federal documents do not include charges related to underage relationships, likely because the age of consent in Ohio is 16.
“He didn’t just lie to the girls,” said Maria Ermie of the local watchdog group Perrysburg Stands Up. “He lied to their parents too—and that’s what’s enraging so many people.”
How the Truth Came Out
The couple who became his legal guardians—described by neighbors as kind-hearted and generous—took Labrador-Sierra into their home, believing he was a homeless teenager. They helped him get a Social Security number and an Ohio driver’s license.
On May 14, everything changed when the mother of Labrador-Sierra’s 2-year-old child contacted the guardians, revealing his real identity and age. When they searched his bedroom, they found a handgun, ammunition, cash, and a fraudulent Michigan driver’s license. They immediately turned the items over to police.
Authorities arrested Labrador-Sierra during a traffic stop five days later.
Community Demands Accountability
Parents and community members are outraged that the school failed to detect the fraud for so long. Some students suspected something was off. “My kids weren’t shocked,” one mother said. “Everyone talked about how different he was.”
Others are furious that school officials missed red flags. “My daughter is a junior and I’m beyond furious,” a parent posted on social media. “People need to be held accountable.”
In response, Perrysburg Schools issued a statement acknowledging that Labrador-Sierra “wove a complex tapestry of lies” and deceived “students, families, staff, attorneys, and agencies.”
Superintendent Thomas Hosler said the district acted lawfully and swiftly. “We’re reviewing our enrollment process,” he added, “not because it failed, but because someone exploited a system built on good faith.”
The school denied Labrador-Sierra’s claim that he had told staff he was a trafficking victim. They say he only made that claim to an attorney later while applying for Temporary Protected Status.
From Tourist Visa to Criminal Charges
Labrador-Sierra entered the U.S. legally in 2019 on a tourist visa but overstayed after it expired in 2020. Between 2021 and 2025, he applied multiple times for protected status and work authorization, each time using a false birthdate to appear much younger.
In late 2023, he approached Perrysburg High School and claimed he was a trafficked teen from Venezuela. The school enrolled him, unaware of the deception.
A Town Left Stunned
Today, Labrador-Sierra remains in federal custody at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio. Meanwhile, the community he misled is still trying to process the betrayal.
“He broke people’s trust—and their hearts,” one mother said.
