Des Moines, Iowa – The former superintendent of the largest school district in Iowa, who Arrest by federal immigration agents Drawing national attention, he is expected to plead guilty Thursday in federal court Fees He falsely claimed to be an American citizen and Unlawful possession of firearms.
Ian Roberts, a citizen of Guyana in South America, initially pleaded not guilty to the two charges, which together carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Roberts is expected to plead guilty to both charges, according to a plea agreement signed by Roberts and released Wednesday.
The plea agreement also indicates that Roberts is aware that he could face deportation after serving his sentence.
Roberts was superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, a district with about 30,000 students, when he was arrested Sept. 26 in a targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation. He allegedly escaped from federal agents before they detained him in a nearby wooded area with the assistance of state troopers.
Authorities say they found a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel under the seat and $3,000 in cash in the district-issued Jeep Cherokee he was driving.
Roberts, who worked as a teacher and administrator for two decades in districts across the United States, was beloved for his charismatic and energetic leadership style. His arrest stunned the Des Moines community.
A federal grand jury in October returned a two-count indictment. Under the agreement, Roberts provided a “false certification” on the USCIS Employment Eligibility Verification form, known as an I-9, that he filed in Des Moines, claiming to be a U.S. citizen even though authorities say he knew he lacked authorization. This is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years and a fine.
Roberts completed Form I-9 when he was hired in 2023 and provided his Social Security card and driver’s license as verification documents, according to the district. He also stated that he was a U.S. citizen in his application to the state Board of Educational Examiners, which issued Roberts a professional administrator license in 2023.
Federal officials said Roberts entered the United States for the first time In 1994 on a nonimmigrant visa. They said he returned in 1999 on an F-1 student visa, which was scheduled to expire in March 2004. He was denied a green card application in 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
His next listed interaction with USCIS was in 2018, when he finally received his work permit. The authorities said that his second application for a work permit was approved and expires in December 2020, and that he has not obtained a work permit since then.
Authorities said Roberts received a notice to appear before an immigration judge in October 2020 and a final order of removal in 2024. District officials said they were not aware of the immigration cases.
Alfredo Parrish, one of Roberts’ attorneys, said his client was under the impression from a previous attorney that his immigration case had been “successfully resolved.”
Parrish did not return phone and email messages Wednesday about the change-of-plea hearing.
The hearing was scheduled after Roberts’ lawyers said in a court filing that they were negotiating with federal prosecutors to reach a resolution before the January 28 deadline.
Roberts also faces a federal weapons charge, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine. The indictment describes two handguns, a shotgun and a rifle found in Roberts’ possession. In addition to the weapon found in his car when he was arrested, three firearms were found during a search of Roberts’ home, authorities said.
Roberts waived his right to be present during his trial in October, when he pleaded not guilty. The trial was scheduled to begin in early March.