DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The former chancellor of Iowa’s largest school district, whose arrest by federal immigration agents drew national attention, is expected to change his guilty plea Thursday in federal court to charges that he lied about being a U.S. citizen and illegally possessed a gun.
Ian Roberts, a native of Guyana, South America, initially pleaded not guilty to the two charges, which carry a combined penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Roberts could also face deportation under a final deportation order in 2024.
Roberts’ attorneys said in a court filing that they had been negotiating with federal prosecutors to reach a resolution before a Jan. 28 deadline before scheduling a plea change hearing.
Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, a district of about 30,000 students, was arrested on Sept. 26 during a targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation. He allegedly fled federal agents, who later detained him in nearby woods with the help of state troopers.
Authorities said they found a handgun wrapped in a towel and $3,000 in cash in the school district-issued Cherokee Jeep he was driving.
Roberts served as an educator and administrator in districts across the United States for two decades and was beloved for his charismatic and dynamic leadership style. His arrest shocked the Des Moines community.
In October, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment. According to the indictment, Roberts made a “false certification” on his U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Eligibility Verification form, known as an I-9, claiming to be a U.S. citizen, even though authorities said he knew he lacked authorization. The penalty is up to five years in prison and a fine.
For the position in Des Moines, Roberts filled out an I-9 form when she was hired in 2023 and submitted a Social Security card and driver’s license as verification documents, according to the school district. He also said he was a U.S. citizen in his application to the state Board of Educational Examiners, which issued Roberts a professional administrator license in 2023.
Federal officials said Roberts first entered the United States in 1994 on a non-immigrant visa. They said he returned home in 1999 on an F-1 student visa, which was scheduled to expire in March 2004. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, his green card application was denied in 2003.
His next interaction with USCIS was in 2018, when he finally received work authorization. Authorities said his second work permit application was approved, which was due to expire in December 2020, and he has not received a work permit since then.
Authorities said Roberts will be subject to a notice to appear before an immigration judge in October 2020 and will receive a final deportation order in 2024. District officials said they were unaware of the immigration issue.
Alfredo Parrish, one of Roberts’ attorneys, said he was given the impression by Roberts’ previous attorneys that his immigration case had been “successfully resolved.”
Parrish did not respond to calls and emails Wednesday regarding the plea change hearing.
Roberts also faces federal weapons charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine. The indictment describes two handguns, a rifle and a shotgun found on Roberts. In addition to the one gun that was in the car at the time of the arrest, a search of Roberts’ home turned up three guns, authorities said.
Roberts pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in October and waived his right to appear in court. The trial was scheduled to begin in early March.
