Former Des Moines Schools Superintendent to Plead Guilty to False U.S. Citizenship Claim and Illegal Firearm Possession
Former Des Moines schools superintendent Ian Roberts has signed a plea agreement and is expected to plead guilty to falsely attesting to U.S. citizenship on an I‑9 and to unlawful possession of firearms as a non‑citizen, with the deal acknowledging he could be deported and exposing him to maximum penalties of five years and $250,000 on the false‑statement count and 15 years and $250,000 on the firearms count. Court filings and ICE say he fled a Sept. 26, 2025 traffic stop after which agents found a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel and $3,000 in a school‑issued Jeep Cherokee and later seized three more guns from his home; filings also outline a long immigration history ending in a 2024 final removal order that district officials say they were unaware of.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Ian Roberts has signed a federal plea agreement and is expected to plead guilty to two counts: falsely attesting to U.S. citizenship (on his I‑9 form and a state administrator‑license application) and unlawful possession of firearms as a non‑citizen.
- The plea agreement acknowledges he could be deported after serving any sentence and outlines maximum penalties of up to 5 years and a $250,000 fine on the false‑citizenship count and up to 15 years and a $250,000 fine on the firearms count.
- Federal and immigration records show a timeline of Roberts' status: initial U.S. entry in 1994 on a non‑immigrant visa, return on an F‑1 student visa in 1999, a green‑card denial in 2003, work authorization granted in 2018 that expired in December 2020 (with a notice to appear issued in October 2020), and a final removal order in 2024; Des Moines district officials say they were unaware of the removal order and had relied on his Social Security card, driver’s license and professional licenses.
- ICE says a Sept. 26, 2025 traffic stop resulted in Roberts fleeing in a school‑issued Jeep Cherokee that was later abandoned; agents found a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel under the seat and about $3,000 in cash in the vehicle.
- Authorities recovered three additional firearms from Roberts’ home — described as two pistols, a rifle and a shotgun (four guns total when combined with the weapon found in the Jeep) — and those weapons will be forfeited under the plea deal.
- The Department of Homeland Security (as reported by Fox News) described Roberts as having an “extensive criminal history,” including prior drug‑trafficking and weapons charges.
đź“° Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 22, 2026
12:34 PM
Former Iowa school superintendent arrested by ICE expected to plead guilty to federal charges
New information:
- Roberts has signed a plea agreement and is now expected to plead guilty to both the false‑statement and unlawful‑firearm‑possession counts.
- The plea agreement confirms he falsely attested to being a U.S. citizen on his I‑9 form and acknowledges he may be deported after serving any sentence.
- Fox’s piece restates DHS’s earlier claim of an 'extensive criminal history' including prior drug trafficking and weapons charges, and details that three additional firearms were recovered from his home, for a total of four guns.
5:10 AM
Former Iowa superintendent expected to plead guilty to falsely claiming he was a US citizen
New information:
- Confirms Roberts has now signed a plea agreement and is expected to plead guilty Thursday to both the false‑statement and firearms counts.
- Details that the plea agreement includes explicit acknowledgment that he could be deported after serving his sentence.
- Spells out that ICE’s September stop involved an alleged flight in a school‑issued Jeep Cherokee, an abandoned vehicle, a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel under the seat, and $3,000 in cash.
- Clarifies that three additional firearms (two pistols, a rifle and a shotgun) were seized from his home and will be forfeited under the plea deal.
- Provides more complete immigration‑status timeline: notice to appear in October 2020, work authorization due to expire months later, and a final removal order in 2024, which Des Moines district officials say they did not know about.
January 21, 2026
11:46 PM
Former Iowa school superintendent to plead guilty to lying about citizenship
New information:
- Confirms via filed plea agreement that Ian Roberts will plead guilty to both counts: falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on an I‑9 form and illegal possession of firearms as a non‑citizen.
- Details his immigration history: initial U.S. entry in 1994 on a non‑immigrant visa, return on F‑1 student visa in 1999, green‑card denial in 2003, work‑authorization approval in 2018 with expiration in December 2020, and a 2024 final removal order.
- Specifies that ICE found a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel under the seat and $3,000 in cash in his school‑issued Jeep Cherokee when he fled a September 26, 2025 traffic stop.
- Reports that Roberts falsely attested to U.S. citizenship on his Des Moines I‑9 and on his state administrator‑license application, and that district officials say they relied on his Social Security card, driver’s license and licenses and were unaware of any immigration issues.
- Notes that the plea agreement acknowledges he understands he could face deportation after serving any sentence, and sets out maximum penalties of five years and a $250,000 fine on the false‑citizenship count and 15 years and a $250,000 fine on the firearms count.