Former Des Moines superintendent pleads guilty to false citizenship claim and illegal firearms possession
Ian Roberts pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on an I-9 and illegally possessing firearms; sentencing set for May 29, and deportation is possible.
Overview
Ian Roberts, former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools serving about 30,000 students, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegal firearms possession.
He admitted making a false attestation on an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form and acknowledged possessing multiple firearms, including a loaded handgun found in his vehicle.
Arrested Sept. 26 after an ICE operation in Des Moines, Roberts resigned days later; he pleaded guilty in federal court and remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
Authorities found a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel under a car seat; additional guns were seized from his home during a search, records show.
Plea could affect immigration status — prosecutors may recommend leniency but sentencing by a judge could include prison, forfeiture of weapons, and potential deportation.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this as a fall-from-grace legal unraveling by juxtaposing laudatory career language ('exuberant and inspiring leader') with arrest details (weapons, fleeing, $3,000), prioritizing official statements and prosecutorial outcomes while presenting defense remarks as source content rather than editorial endorsement.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Ian Roberts pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form and illegal possession of firearms as an unauthorized alien.
Ian Roberts, a native of Guyana, entered the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa that expired in 2004. He has no work authorization since December 2020 and a final order of removal issued in 2024.
Roberts was arrested by ICE on September 26, 2025. Authorities found a loaded handgun in his vehicle and three additional firearms at his residence.
Roberts resigned as superintendent on September 30, 2025, after his arrest. His administrator license was revoked by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, and the school board placed him on unpaid leave.
Sentencing is set for May 29, which may include prison time, forfeiture of weapons, and deportation due to impact on his immigration status.
History
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