Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on a federal employment form and to illegal firearms possession, in a case tied to his Sept. 26 detention by federal immigration officers.
In the courtroom in Des Moines, Roberts appeared with wrists and feet cuffed before U.S. Magistrate Judge Helen C. Adams. The former superintendent addressed the judge cordially and acknowledged he understood his rights and the details of his plea agreement, which prosecutors and the court said was before him. Roberts told the judge, “It is my signature, your honor,” and later confirmed it was “my decision” to sign it, as he followed along with eyeglasses on.
The plea resolves two federal counts that, together, carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the proceedings described by prosecutors’ filing. Under the agreement, prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa agreed not to pursue additional charges against Roberts or others related to these counts, and they also agreed to recommend leniency, while the sentence ultimately remained in the hands of U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger. Ebinger’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 29.
Roberts also told the judge that he is aware the guilty pleas could have an impact on his immigration case, and that he could face immediate deportation after he serves his sentence. His attorneys described the agreement as taking responsibility for the matters in the case. Alfredo Parrish, one of Roberts’ attorneys, said after the hearing that Roberts “wanted to accept responsibility and that’s what he did,” though Parrish said personally that the moment was “not one of the happiest” in his long legal career.
The charges grew out of Roberts’ arrest just weeks into a new school year, described as a shock to the community and a moment that drew national attention. Roberts had been detained in a targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation after being pulled over in a school-issued Jeep Cherokee, an incident in which authorities alleged Roberts fled from federal agents. Authorities later said they found the car abandoned near a wooded area and Roberts, with help from state troopers.
Prosecutors said authorities located a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel under the seat and found $3,000 in cash in the car. They also said a search of Roberts’ home turned up additional firearms, including a second pistol, a rifle and a shotgun. The federal case stems from a two-count indictment returned by a grand jury in October.
One count stems from the employment paperwork Roberts completed when he was hired in 2023 and submitted in Des Moines. Prosecutors said Roberts knowingly and intentionally made a “false attestation” that he was a U.S. citizen on an Employment Eligibility Verification form, known as an I-9. According to the plea agreement and the court proceedings described Thursday, Roberts answered “Yes, your honor” when asked by the judge if that statement on the I-9 was, in fact, false. The second count is a federal weapons charge.
The agreement says Roberts will forfeit the weapons. The Des Moines school district, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on Roberts’ legal proceedings and said its focus “remains on serving the educational needs of students,” in a statement issued by Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for Des Moines Public Schools.
The case also intersects with Roberts’ immigration history, according to authorities. He was subject to a notice to appear before an immigration judge in October 2020, just months before his work authorization was set to expire, and authorities said he later received a final removal order in 2024. District officials said they were not aware of the immigration issues, according to the account described in court.
After the hearing, Parrish said Roberts had been under the impression from a prior attorney that his immigration case was “resolved successfully,” and he described discussing with Roberts arguments to dismiss the firearms charge, including citing ongoing court cases addressing Second Amendment rights. Parrish told reporters the sentencing hearing “will be most important,” saying he plans to address factors likely to influence the court’s decision.