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An illegal immigrant from Venezuela has seen local charges against him dropped as federal authorities take over the case. Anthony Labrador-Sierra, aged 24, was arrested on May 21 after allegedly enrolling in a public high school in Ohio using counterfeit documents.
On Thursday, the Perrysburg Municipal Court formally announced to Fox News Digital that all local charges against Labrador-Sierra have been dismissed. His case will now proceed in federal court.
After appearing before a judge, Labrador-Sierra waived his right to a preliminary hearing, as reported by WTVG News.
Authorities will present the case to a grand jury, which will decide on further legal actions. According to the criminal complaint, Perrysburg Schools informed the Perrysburg Police Department about suspicions that Labrador-Sierra, who was attending Perrysburg High School, was not the teenager he claimed to be.
Investigators determined that he was actually a 24-year-old man who had enrolled in school by misrepresenting his age. The collaboration between local detectives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) clarified his real identity.
Officials uncovered that Labrador-Sierra had allegedly used fake documents to register at Perrysburg Schools while pretending to be a 16-year-old student.
Tom Hosler, superintendent of Perrysburg Schools, stated that the district acted promptly upon discovering the truth about Labrador-Sierra’s identity. In an official statement, he emphasized the district’s commitment to student safety.
“Upon learning that this student may have concealed his identity and misled us, we acted swiftly. We met with him, immediately barred him from school property, and contacted law enforcement soon after,” Hosler said.
He reiterated that student safety and security are of utmost importance. The urgency of the situation prompted swift responses from the school district.
Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, characterized the entire situation as shocking. He expressed his concern in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI Director, urging immediate investigations.
Moreno attributed the incident to federal policy failures, accusing the current administration of negligence regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and asylum claims that could lead to such alarming situations.
He called for rigorous enforcement of immigration and criminal laws against Labrador-Sierra, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations against him.
Additionally, Hosler mentioned that Labrador-Sierra weaved a complex web of deceit to carry out his impersonation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Ohio revealed that he is accused of submitting false information to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services relating to his birth date in future applications for TPS and employment documents.
Documents from the Department of Homeland Security indicate that under a different spelling of his name, Labrador-Sierra has been identified as a visa overstay, entering the United States in 2019.
Perrysburg Police Chief Pat Jones characterized the case as potentially indicative of broader issues, stating that the facts uncovered so far may only represent the surface of a much larger investigation.
The local school district expressed empathy towards the community’s outrage, denouncing disregard for laws designed to protect vulnerable populations. They reiterated the need to approach the situation with a focus on the facts as it evolves.
The complaint alleges that Labrador-Sierra lacks legal status to purchase or possess a firearm in the United States. Furthermore, it claims he submitted fraudulent information on an Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives form while attempting to buy a gun.
At present, he is held in the Lucas County Jail, facing serious charges. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 15 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm as an alien, 10 years for making a false statement during a gun purchase, and up to five years for using forged documents.
The school district reaffirmed its commitment to gaining clarity as the investigation unfolds, expressing intent to share information with the community when available. They also encouraged anyone with relevant information about the case to report it to the FBI at their hotline.
As authorities continue their investigation into the allegations against Labrador-Sierra, the implications of this situation raise significant concerns regarding immigration policies and how they affect local communities. Such incidents highlight the necessity for vigilance in protecting the safety and integrity of school environments.
The broader conversation surrounding immigration enforcement and student safety will undoubtedly continue to evolve as more information comes to light in this complex case.
