Ian Roberts, a Guyanese-born educator who once held senior leadership positions in several U.S. school districts, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing firearms.
Roberts, a former superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools system in Iowa and a former educator in Baltimore City Schools, was sentenced on Friday by a federal judge, according to reports from U.S. media outlets.
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Federal prosecutors said Roberts falsely represented himself as a U.S. citizen on employment documents and was found to be in possession of firearms while unlawfully present in the United States.
Roberts, who immigrated to the United States from Guyana in 1994, had reportedly been authorized to work in the country until 2020. However, authorities said his employment authorization expired and was not renewed, leaving him without legal status despite continuing to hold high-profile education leadership positions.
The former superintendent was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on September 26, 2025. According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents recovered a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and approximately US$3,000 in cash at the time of his arrest.
Following his detention, Roberts resigned from his position as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest public school district, where he had served since 2023.
Investigators also alleged that Roberts had previously registered to vote as a Democrat in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he once resided.
Before relocating to Iowa, Roberts spent nearly a decade with Baltimore City Schools between 2001 and 2010. During that period, he served as a classroom teacher for five years, a resident principal for one year, and a school principal for an additional two years.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Roberts’ prominent role in public education and the length of time he remained employed in leadership positions despite his expired work authorization.
With the sentencing now handed down, Roberts is expected to serve two years in federal prison before facing any additional immigration proceedings that may arise following the completion of his sentence
