Anna Krause’s son, 16-year-old Gentry Stephens, competed in a soccer game earlier in the school year against Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra.
In Sylvania, Ohio, Anna Krause is still processing the recent events surrounding the arrest of Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, a student from Perrysburg High School. He was apprehended on Monday on charges of felony forgery, a situation that Krause finds hard to believe.
“It’s just a wild, crazy story,” she told WTOL 11. “It’s like a movie.”
Authorities revealed that the 24-year-old individual had allegedly utilized counterfeit documents, such as a birth certificate from Venezuela, to masquerade as a 17-year-old student named “Anthony Labrador.”
This incident hits close to home for Krause as her son, Gentry Stephens, a 16-year-old who played junior varsity soccer for Northview High School, had competed unknowingly against Sierra during the past season.
“My son said he remembered playing with him,” Krause said. “I thought for sure he had to have been mistaken because, you know, it’s already a wild story.”
He wasn’t wrong. Multiple photos from Krause confirmed what she and her son suspected.
“We found the proof with the picture, and it was just a shock,” she said.
Krause said she remembered seeing Sierra and thinking something seemed off.
“I remember the look and his physical [appearance],” she said. “He looked stronger than the other boys. He just looked more built. He looked more like a man.”
Her larger concern, however, is the significant age gap between Sierra and the rest of the players.
“They don’t have a freshman team, so there’s freshmen playing on a JV team, which is 14-year-olds,” Krause explained.
Perrysburg Schools confirmed that Sierra was on the junior varsity soccer and swimming teams. The Ohio High School Athletic Association told WTOL 11 that neither team will face penalties.
The school district issued a statement, emphasizing student well-being.
“On May 14, Perrysburg Schools was alerted by guardians of a student enrolled under the name Anthony Labrador that he may in fact be a 24-year-old adult. District administrators immediately met with the individual, who denied the claim. He was directed to stay off school property, and the district launched a review. We contacted Perrysburg Police and shared our findings. Their investigation led to Labrador’s arrest on May 19 for felony forgery.
“This individual used forged documents not only to enroll in school, but also to obtain legal guardianship, a Social Security number, an Ohio driver’s license, and federal Temporary Protected Status. Multiple agencies were misled by these falsified records.
“While the deception was complex and far-reaching, Perrysburg Schools acted swiftly and appropriately once concerns were raised.
“What’s most heartbreaking is how many responded in good faith. Staff and local families offered support to someone they believed was a vulnerable teen. Their compassion reflects the best of our community. Though trust was violated, we remain proud of those who chose to help.
“Student safety remains our highest priority. We are committed to transparency and to strengthening safeguards that protect every child in our schools.”
But Krause believes this isn’t just about sports.
“There needs to be someone held accountable,” she said. “And there needs to be more due diligence done to make sure this doesn’t happen anymore.”
Labrador-Sierra remains in the Wood County Jail. He has pleaded not guilty to felony forgery and is being held on a $50,000 bond.
He is due back in court on Thursday, May 29, at 9 a.m.
