In brief
Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of making a false employment statement regarding his U.S. citizenship and possessing firearms illegally. Arrested by ICE, Roberts had a prior removal order and was found with multiple weapons, prompting questions about his hiring by the Des Moines Public Schools.
DES MOINES, Iowa (FlashPoint) — Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, has been indicted by a federal grand jury after being accused of falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen eligible for employment.
The two-count indictment filed Thursday in Des Moines charges Roberts with making a false statement for employment and being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.
Roberts, originally from Guyana and who held various educational roles across the U.S., was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 26 after a targeted operation. Reports indicated that he attempted to flee from agents in a district-issued vehicle before being apprehended in a nearby wooded area.
Upon his arrest, a handgun was discovered wrapped in a towel inside the vehicle. Following a search of his home, authorities uncovered three additional firearms—including two pistols, a rifle, and a shotgun.
Roberts was hired by the Des Moines Public Schools in 2023 to oversee a student body of approximately 30,000. It has been alleged that he made a false declaration on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Eligibility Verification form, misrepresenting his citizenship status.
The indictment outlines that Roberts had a final immigration removal order from the previous year, which was upheld despite attempts to reopen his case earlier this year.
After his detention, Roberts was transferred into federal custody and charged with unlawful firearm possession. The Des Moines school district continues to address the repercussions of this incident, including legal action against the consulting firm involved in his hiring process. In light of the developments, school board chair Jackie Norris has suggested reviewing the district's expenditures and recently chose to suspend her Senate campaign.
