UMVA has learned that former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Andre Roberts has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for masquerading as a U.S. citizen and illegally possessing firearms while living in the country without authorization.
Roberts, a Guyanese national who entered the United States on a student visa in 1999, kept his status hidden for more than two decades, climbing the education ladder to lead Iowa’s largest school district—serving roughly 30,000 students—from July 2023 until his arrest in September 2024.
According to information obtained by UMVA, he falsified his immigration status on official employment forms, submitting a Social Security card and driver’s license while swearing he was a citizen to secure a professional administrator license.
When federal agents moved in, Roberts attempted to flee, only to be discovered with a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel, a hunting knife and $3,000 in cash stashed in his vehicle.
The court heard that his deception placed him in an “incredible position of trust,” prompting Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to emphasize the gravity of lying to obtain a role that shapes the futures of thousands of children.
Roberts had previously overseen the Millcreek Township School District in Pennsylvania, further extending his influence over American students before his fraudulent status was uncovered.
After serving his sentence—already credited with roughly eight months behind bars—Roberts will be turned over to immigration authorities and deported back to Guyana.
This case sends a stark warning that illegal entry and false claims of citizenship can breach even the most trusted corridors of public service, shaking confidence in the vetting processes that protect schools and communities.
