Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
A Venezuelan national residing unlawfully in Perrysburg, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to charges related to lying on immigration forms and firearms applications. Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, 24, admitted to all four counts against him before U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp on September 22.
Labrador-Sierra was charged by a federal grand jury in June with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States, making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, and two counts of making or using false writings or documents.
According to court documents, Labrador-Sierra submitted a false date of birth on federal applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization Documents in 2024 and 2025. Investigators reported that Perrysburg Schools notified the local police after learning that Labrador-Sierra, who had enrolled as a student at Perrysburg High School, was not a minor but instead a 24-year-old man attending under false pretenses.
If convicted on all charges, Labrador-Sierra could face up to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by an alien; up to 10 years for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm; and up to five years for using false documents. Sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2026. The final sentence will be determined by the court after considering federal guidelines and other factors.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the City of Perrysburg Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection−Sandusky Bay Station, FBI Toledo Field Office, ATF, and support from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort led by the Department of Justice focused on addressing illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
