Former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts is set to plead guilty to federal immigration charges following his arrest by ICE last month. According to recent court filings, Roberts, who hails from Guyana, was apprehended on September 26 while allegedly attempting to evade ICE agents in Des Moines.
During the arrest, officers from the Department of Homeland Security discovered a firearm, a knife, and $3,000 in cash in a vehicle belonging to the school district that Roberts was driving at the time. He has been charged with illegally possessing a firearm and making false statements for employment. Documents reveal that he had four firearms in total: one discovered during the arrest and three confiscated from his residence.
As part of a plea agreement filed on January 21, Roberts intends to plead guilty to the charges of making false statements for employment and illegal firearm possession. Initially, he had pleaded not guilty to these charges back in October 2025.
Under the agreement, federal prosecutors from the Southern District of Iowa will not seek further charges against Roberts concerning his firearm possession or his misrepresentation of citizenship status. The charge for making false statements carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, while the illegal possession of firearms could lead to a maximum of 15 years. Together, these charges also incur the possibility of a combined fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. If sentenced consecutively, Roberts could potentially face up to 20 years in prison.
Roberts has also agreed to forfeit the firearms seized during the investigation, which include a loaded 9 mm Glock pistol, a loaded 9 mm Sig Sauer, a loaded .270-caliber Remington rifle, and a 20-gauge Remington shotgun.
A federal judge will schedule a sentencing hearing to determine Roberts’ final sentence after the completion of a presentence report. He remains in custody as he awaits this crucial hearing.