School Chief BUSTED — Illegal, Armed, Running Everything

A former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district admitted to lying about his citizenship and illegally possessing firearms while living and working in the United States without authorization, exposing a stunning breakdown in background checks that allowed an ineligible foreign national to lead 30,000 students.

Story Snapshot

Ian Roberts pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on federal employment forms and illegally possessing firearms as a non-citizen without legal status
Roberts led Des Moines Public Schools despite expired work authorization since 2020, a prior weapons conviction, and a federal removal order issued in 2024
ICE arrested him in September 2025 with a loaded handgun in his vehicle and additional weapons at his home
He faces up to 20 years in prison and near-certain deportation following sentencing on May 29, 2026
The school district is suing its background check firm for failing to detect Roberts’ unauthorized status and criminal history

Fraud at the Highest Level of Education Leadership

Ian Roberts, a Guyana native who entered the United States on a student visa in 1999, submitted a false I-9 employment verification form in June 2023 claiming U.S. citizenship to secure the superintendent position at Des Moines Public Schools. Roberts signed the federal document knowing he had no legal work authorization after it expired in December 2020. He also falsely claimed citizenship on his Iowa administrator license application, compounding the deception that enabled him to oversee Iowa’s largest school district serving 30,000 students.

Roberts’ immigration troubles began years earlier when he failed to respond to his fourth green card application between 2001 and 2018, resulting in denial. By October 2020, immigration authorities notified him to appear before a judge as his work authorization neared expiration. Despite losing legal status to work in December 2020 and receiving a final removal order in May 2024 following a 2022 Pennsylvania weapons conviction, Roberts continued advancing his education career through deliberate falsehoods on official government documents.

Armed and Unauthorized: The ICE Arrest

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Roberts on September 26, 2025, discovering a loaded handgun, cash, and a knife in his vehicle. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered additional firearms including a pistol, rifle, and shotgun. As a non-citizen without legal status and subject to a removal order, Roberts violated federal law prohibiting illegal aliens from possessing firearms or ammunition. His defense attorney, Alfredo Parrish, later argued Roberts carried weapons for self-defense due to threats he received as superintendent, though this claim provided no legal justification for firearm possession by someone in the country illegally.

The arrest occurred just weeks into the 2025 school year, forcing Des Moines Public Schools to place Roberts on administrative leave. He resigned four days later on September 30, 2025, leaving the district scrambling for leadership. A federal grand jury indicted him in October 2025 on two counts: falsely claiming citizenship and illegal firearm possession as an unauthorized alien. Both charges carry severe penalties, with the citizenship fraud alone punishable by up to five years in prison and fines, while the weapons charge carries up to 10 years.

Background Check Failures and District Accountability

The Roberts case exposes critical failures in the vetting process for one of America’s most important public sector positions. Des Moines Public Schools hired Roberts in July 2023 to lead its diverse student body despite his unauthorized status, expired work authorization, prior criminal conviction, and pending removal proceedings. School board president Jackie Norris claimed officials were unaware of any issues until the arrest, raising serious questions about the thoroughness of pre-employment screening for a six-figure leadership role with direct responsibility for children’s safety and education.

DMPS responded by filing a lawsuit against JG Consulting, the background screening firm hired to vet Roberts during the recruitment process. The district alleges the company breached its duty by failing to identify Roberts’ immigration violations, criminal history, and ineligibility for employment in the United States. This litigation highlights growing concerns among conservatives about government contractors’ competence and accountability when basic due diligence failures place vulnerable populations at risk. Prior school districts that employed Roberts have joined similar legal action, suggesting a pattern of vetting negligence that allowed an illegal alien to ascend to superintendent positions across multiple jurisdictions.

Sentencing and Deportation Ahead

Roberts pleaded guilty on January 22, 2026, in U.S. District Court before Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger, admitting he falsely signed the I-9 form and knowingly possessed firearms while aware of his unlawful immigration status. The plea agreement, filed January 21, requires him to forfeit all weapons and prohibits additional local charges. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa agreed to recommend leniency in exchange for the guilty plea, though Roberts still faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced on May 29, 2026.

Beyond prison time, Roberts faces near-certain deportation to Guyana following incarceration. His felony convictions will permanently bar him from reentering the United States legally, ending a 27-year residence built on circumventing immigration law. Defense attorney Parrish indicated he will emphasize mitigating factors at sentencing, including alleged threats Roberts received as superintendent and claims that prior legal counsel misled him on immigration matters. However, these arguments cannot erase Roberts’ repeated choices to deceive federal and state authorities, possess weapons illegally, and exploit a broken system that failed to protect Iowa families from his fraud. This case serves as a stark reminder of why rigorous immigration enforcement and background verification remain essential to preserving the integrity of American institutions and the safety of our children.