DES MOINES, Iowa — Federal prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison sentence for Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, following his guilty plea to federal charges involving identity fraud and firearm possession.
Roberts pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to gain employment and one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
The criminal charges follow an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who arrested Roberts in September 2025. At the time of his arrest, authorities discovered that Roberts was carrying a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and 3,000 dollars in cash. He stepped down from his position as superintendent a few days after the arrest occurred.
Roberts took over the leadership of the largest school district in Iowa in 2023. However, internet court records indicate that throughout his 15-year career in the education sector, Roberts held valid employment authorization for only 18 months.
In a sentencing memorandum submitted late last week, United States Attorney David Waterman stated that Roberts spent more than 15 years as an education professional building a public reputation rooted in authenticity, leadership, and integrity. Waterman noted that the defendant participated in behavior that compromised those specific values behind that public persona.
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