Ian Andre Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was sentenced to two years in prison on June 1, 2026, after pleading guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing firearms while in the United States unlawfully. Roberts is expected to be deported to Guyana after serving his sentence.
Roberts misrepresented his citizenship status on employment paperwork during his tenure at the district, which serves approximately 30,000 students. He was arrested on September 26, 2025, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while in a school-issued vehicle. During the arrest, a loaded handgun and about $3,000 in cash were found in the vehicle.
Under his plea agreement, Roberts acknowledged possessing four firearms, including a loaded Glock handgun found in his vehicle, with additional weapons discovered at his home. Prior to his employment, Roberts had received a notice to appear before an immigration judge in October 2020 and was subject to a final order of removal in 2024. District officials stated they were unaware of any immigration-related issues involving Roberts. His attorneys sought probation, but the request was denied by the judge. Roberts expressed remorse during sentencing.
