Authorities in Perrysburg, Ohio, apprehended a 24-year-old unauthorized immigrant from Venezuela for reportedly using fake paperwork to register at a local high school.
The individual, identified as Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, faces charges of forgery and is presently in custody on a $50,000 bond. The incident came to light when Perrysburg Local Schools notified the Perrysburg Police Department of potential fraudulent enrollment activity involving one of their students.
After a preliminary investigation, a fraud case was established and handed over to the department’s detectives for further investigation.
The school district issued a statement affirming that it had followed appropriate legal procedures in line with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act while assisting an individual claiming to be an unaccompanied minor. They expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts with the police division and the prompt response to the situation.
The school also updated the statement, saying Labrador Sierra had been a member of the junior varsity soccer and swim teams, adding the situation has been reported to the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Labrador Sierra was ultimately taken into custody during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 on Tuesday afternoon.
The Department of Homeland Security (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. DHS also confirmed Labrador has received TPS.
Labrador is being held in the Wood County Jail on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 29.
