Illegal Immigrant Tricks School, Scores 9mm Pistol

A 24-year-old Venezuelan man has been federally indicted after successfully posing as a teenager, illegally purchasing a firearm, and attending an Ohio high school for months before guardians exposed his deception.

Key Takeaways

• Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, 24, faces federal charges for illegally possessing a firearm, making false statements during a firearm purchase, and using fraudulent documents while posing as a high school student.
• Labrador-Sierra submitted false birth dates on applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization to maintain his teenage facade.
• DHS confirmed he is a visa overstay who first entered the United States in 2019 and has been living illegally in the country since.
• The deception was discovered in May when his court-appointed guardians informed school officials of his actual age.
• If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison for illegal firearm possession alone, with additional penalties possible for other charges.

Immigration Failure Leads to School Security Breach

The case of Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra represents a disturbing example of how our immigration system’s failures directly impact American communities. Labrador-Sierra, who entered the United States in 2019 and overstayed his visa, managed to enroll in Perrysburg Schools in Ohio by claiming to be a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor. This deception wasn’t discovered until May 2023, when the family that had been granted guardianship through Wood County Juvenile Court alerted school officials about his true age.

“A federal indictment has been issued in the case of a Venezuelan man who claimed to be several years younger than his real age and attended high school in Northwest Ohio,” stated the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

Illegal Firearm Acquisition Heightens Concerns

The situation became even more alarming when authorities discovered Labrador-Sierra had illegally obtained a Taurus G3C 9mm semiautomatic pistol. According to the indictment, he provided false information to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to purchase the weapon. This aspect of the case highlights the dangers posed when individuals living illegally in the United States circumvent background check systems designed to keep weapons out of dangerous hands.

“A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against 24-year-old Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who was residing in Perrysburg, Ohio, where he also attended high school claiming to be a teenager until last month,” reported the DOJ.

Elaborate Deception Through Document Fraud

Labrador-Sierra’s scheme involved multiple layers of fraud. He submitted false birth dates on federal applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization, effectively building a paper trail to support his false identity. These documents allowed him to participate in school activities, including sports teams, while living among actual teenagers. When confronted by school administrators about his true age, he denied the allegations, attempting to maintain his cover even as it unraveled.

“The Perrysburg Police Department said last month that it had been contacted by the Perrysburg Local Schools about possible fraudulent activity involving one of its students,” noted the Perrysburg Police Department.

Immigration System Failures Exposed

The Department of Homeland Security’s involvement in the case revealed additional troubling details. DHS confirmed that Labrador-Sierra was initially difficult to locate in their systems because they had his name under a different spelling, showing how easily individuals can slip through administrative cracks. Despite being a visa overstay from 2019, he had received Temporary Protective Status, highlighting the broken immigration enforcement mechanisms that allow illegal immigrants to remain in the country despite violating immigration laws.

“DHS told Fox News they have located Labrador Sierra’s information under a different spelling of his name. They added that Labrador Sierra is a visa overstay who first came to the U.S. in 2019,” reported DHS.

Serious Consequences Await

Labrador-Sierra now faces severe legal consequences for his actions. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for illegal firearm possession, 10 years for making false statements during the firearm purchase, and an additional five years for using false documentation. The case is being investigated by multiple agencies, including the Perrysburg Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, FBI Toledo Field Office, and ATF, with assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office, underscoring the seriousness of these offenses.

The Labrador-Sierra case serves as a stark reminder of the national security implications of our porous borders and lax immigration enforcement. It demonstrates how easily determined individuals can manipulate systems meant to protect American citizens and highlights the urgent need for meaningful immigration reform and stronger verification protocols in educational institutions.