PERRYSBURG, Ohio — State Representative Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) has raised concerns about Perrysburg Schools’ handling of the Anthony Labrador Sierra case, highlighting possible delays in intervention and procedural gaps that may have allowed a 24-year-old man to attend high school under a false identity for several months.
In a statement released Saturday, Ghanbari pointed to two main issues: the school district’s delay in notifying law enforcement of a human trafficking claim and questions about whether the district complied with federal law concerning the enrollment of homeless students.
According to Perrysburg Police, Labrador Sierra first contacted the school district in November 2023, claiming he was homeless, an immigrant from Venezuela, and a victim of human trafficking. Although the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act mandates that schools enroll homeless students immediately, even without documentation, Labrador Sierra was not allowed to enroll until January 2024, two months after providing a Venezuelan birth certificate indicating a 2007 birthdate.
“This prompts a critical question,” Ghanbari wrote. “Given that Mr. Labrador Sierra disclosed his status as homeless, on what basis did the school district require the production of a birth certificate as a condition of enrollment, potentially in conflict with protections afforded under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act?”
The second point of concern involved the timing of law enforcement notification. Perrysburg Police reported they were not informed of the human trafficking claim until May 2025, around the time Labrador Sierra was arrested and federally charged. Ghanbari emphasized that earlier notification could have allowed law enforcement, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to initiate an investigation and use biometric technology to verify the man’s identity.
“Had law enforcement been notified in November 2023 about the situation,” Ghanbari stated, “the Perrysburg Police Division would’ve had the opportunity to initiate an investigation into the human trafficking allegation and subsequently worked with their federal law enforcement partners such as United States Customs and Border Protection.”
Perrysburg Schools acknowledged that it currently lacks a specific policy requiring staff to notify law enforcement about human trafficking reports. The district relies on Policy 8462 — which mandates reporting of suspected abuse or neglect — but this policy does not explicitly reference trafficking.
Ghanbari said the situation underscores the need for clearer policies at both local and state levels. “I remain committed to working with local, state, and federal officials to ensure accountability and implement reforms that prevent this from ever happening again,” he wrote.
Labrador Sierra, confirmed to be 24 years old, now faces three federal charges: possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the U.S., making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, and using false documents. His identity was first questioned following a shoplifting arrest at a Walmart, which prompted a deeper investigation revealing inconsistencies in his identity.
The case has sparked broader discussions about school policies regarding homeless students, human trafficking allegations, and law enforcement coordination.