DES MOINES — A disgraced former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting he falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen and illegally possessed firearms while living in the country without legal status.
Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was sentenced Friday, May 29, 2026, in federal court. Roberts had pleaded guilty in January to federal immigration and weapons charges tied to his employment with the district and his possession of firearms.
Roberts, a native of Guyana in South America, is expected to be deported after he serves his prison sentence.
The case brought national attention to Des Moines Public Schools after Roberts was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September 2025. At the time, Roberts was leading Iowa’s largest school district, which serves tens of thousands of students.
Federal authorities said Roberts falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen on employment paperwork connected to his job with Des Moines Public Schools. Investigators said he did not have authorization to work in the United States when he was hired by the district.
Roberts also admitted to possessing firearms while in the United States without legal status. Investigators found four firearms connected to Roberts after his arrest, including a loaded handgun in his district-issued vehicle, according to Iowa Public Radio.
Federal prosecutors had recommended a longer prison term, arguing Roberts’ conduct was deliberate and sustained. Prosecutors said Roberts had been officially authorized to work in the United States for only 18 months during a 15-year education career that included jobs in Washington, D.C., Missouri, Pennsylvania and Iowa.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Roberts to two years in prison, saying his crimes were not an isolated mistake or simple administrative error. The judge said Roberts had repeatedly lied about his citizenship to secure employment, causing outrage and confusion among people who had believed him to be a trusted public leader.
Roberts’ defense had sought probation, arguing that his expected deportation and loss of career were already severe consequences. The court rejected that request.
Roberts is expected to receive credit for time he has already spent in custody since his arrest. Once his sentence is complete, he is expected to be turned over to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations for deportation proceedings.
The criminal case was not the only fallout from Roberts’ tenure in Des Moines.
An audit later found a conflict of interest involving Roberts and a consulting firm with which he had a prior professional relationship. Des Moines Public Schools revised its conflict-of-interest policy after the audit found Roberts had authorized district business involving the firm. The district also revised policies involving the use of public money for donations after the audit raised concerns about more than $2,000 in district-funded charitable event payments.
Roberts resigned from Des Moines Public Schools after his arrest.