Ex-Iowa school superintendent sentenced to prison as an illegal alien found with firearms

Ian Andre Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty in January to fraudulently claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing firearms while unlawfully in the United States. He is expected to be deported to Guyana, his native country in South America, after completing his sentence, according to his attorneys and the Associated Press.

Roberts served as the top executive of the state’s largest school district, which serves roughly 30,000 students. His career in urban education, which had spanned more than two decades, ended in 2025 when an immigration investigation led to his arrest and resignation.

The charges stem from information that Roberts knowingly misrepresented his citizenship status on employment documents during his tenure at Des Moines Public Schools. Prosecutors say he submitted a counterfeit Social‑Security card and falsely claimed U.S. citizenship when applying for a professional administrator license through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. The license was issued that same year.

Roberts was first arrested on Sept. 26, 2025. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he was in a school‑issued vehicle when officials approached him. He fled the scene, abandoned the vehicle, and tried to conceal himself before state patrol officers located him with ICE assistance. The vehicle contained a loaded Glock handgun wrapped in a towel, $3,000 in cash, and, during a search of his home, additional weapons: a rifle, a shotgun and a second pistol.

In a plea agreement, Roberts acknowledged possession of four firearms. He pleaded guilty in January and, on a Friday later in the year, was sentenced to two years in federal prison. His attorneys had requested probation, but the judge denied the request. Roberts said he felt remorse for his actions.

Roberts had a documented criminal history that included a narcotics possession offense and a previously dropped charge of unauthorized vehicle use. He was denied lawful permanent residency after officials determined he failed to disclose prior arrests on his application. He explained that he believed the charges had been dropped and therefore did not need to be disclosed.

While serving as superintendent, an audit found that Roberts had awarded district business to a consulting firm with which he had previously worked. The discovery prompted Des Moines Public Schools to review its conflict‑of‑interest policy.

District officials stated that they were unaware of any immigration‑related issues involving Roberts before his arrest. The investigation has underscored the importance of stringent background checks and conflict‑of‑interest oversight in school administration.

After completing his prison term, Roberts will likely be removed from the United States and sent back to Guyana. The case marks the end of a long career that had once placed him at the helm of one of the nation’s largest urban school systems.