Superintendent Sentenced to Prison

Ian Andre Roberts, an undocumented immigrant, who previously held the position of superintendent of public schools in Des Moines, Iowa, has pleaded guilty to federal charges and was sentenced to two years in prison earlier this year.

Recently, Roberts was convicted of making false statements to secure employment in the U.S. and of illegally possessing a firearm. Following his prison term, he is expected to be deported back to Guyana, his home country.

As reported, Roberts was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in September 2025, after a federal immigration judge issued a final deportation order in May 2024. During his arrest, $3,000 in cash was discovered in his government-issued vehicle, along with a loaded handgun and a hunting knife.

At that time, Roberts was serving as the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, having been elected by the school board just a couple of years earlier, in July 2023. The school board had previously commended Roberts for his commitment to educational excellence and values such as diversity and inclusion.

Reports from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reveal that Roberts had an extensive criminal history prior to his appointment as superintendent.

For instance, in July 1996, he faced criminal charges in New York involving drug possession and possession of a counterfeit instrument. Later, in November 1998, he was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, though these charges were dismissed in July 1999.

Fast forward to November 2012, Roberts was convicted in Maryland of reckless driving and speeding. Then, in February 2020, he faced charges for possessing weapons unlawfully, including a loaded gun found in his home. In January 2022, he was convicted again in Pennsylvania for unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.