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Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools-the largest district in Iowa-has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of unlawful possession of firearms and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
The sentence includes credit for eight months already served. Roberts’ attorney confirmed there are no plans to appeal the sentence, according to local ABC affiliate WOI.
Roberts had led Des Moines Public Schools for over two years until his arrest in September 2025 during an immigration enforcement operation by ICE. At the time of his detention, authorities found a loaded handgun in his vehicle. Subsequent searches uncovered three additional firearms in his home.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Roberts has not been authorized to work in the U.S. since December 2020. His immigration status also made it illegal for him to possess firearms.
Following his arrest, a federal grand jury indicted Roberts on charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and making false statements on an Employment Verification Form (I-9) by claiming U.S. citizenship to secure his job with the school district.
Roberts pleaded guilty to both counts. He faced a maximum of 15 years on the firearms charge and five years on the false statement charge. The government had sought a 37-month prison term, roughly three years.
In their sentencing memorandum, federal prosecutors stated, “Defendant Ian Andre Roberts betrayed the public’s trust by falsely claiming citizenship to obtain employment as superintendent. He also unlawfully possessed four firearms as an illegal alien.” They characterized his conduct as a deliberate pattern spanning over 15 years and argued that a prison sentence of 37 months was appropriate to reflect the seriousness of the offenses and uphold respect for the law.
While acknowledging Roberts’ community standing as both a mitigating and aggravating factor, prosecutors emphasized that despite his contributions to education, he placed his personal interests above legal and ethical duties.
Roberts is expected to be deported after completing his prison term. His defense attorneys requested probation instead, arguing that such a sentence would facilitate his removal from the United States. They highlighted Roberts’ acceptance of responsibility, noting that he immediately admitted wrongdoing and cooperated with authorities following his arrest.
His lawyers also pointed to his long career in public service, describing him as nonviolent and asserting that deportation itself constitutes significant punishment. They urged the court to weigh his positive contributions against his immigration and firearms violations, advocating for a probationary sentence to ease his departure.
However, prosecutors countered that reducing the sentence due to immigration consequences would undermine deterrence and fail to adequately reflect the severity of his actions. They maintained that time served-approximately eight months-was insufficient.
Roberts’ career in education leadership spanned nearly two decades across various U.S. school districts before his tenure in Des Moines began in July 2023. Authorities confirmed he had valid work authorization for only 18 months during that period.
Following his arrest, Roberts resigned after the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his administrator license. The Des Moines School Board had placed him on unpaid leave and demanded proof of employment authorization, which he never provided. The board stated it was unaware of his immigration status at the time of hiring.
Originally from Guyana, Roberts is also a former Olympian, having competed in the 2000 Sydney Games. He entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, which expired in 2004. ICE reports he has had no work authorization since and that a final removal order was issued against him in 2024.