Former Des Moines Superintendent Arrested on Firearms Charge

Ian Andre Roberts, former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent, resigned on Sept. 30 and was arrested by ICE on Sept. 26 after a May 2024 deportation order; the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has revoked his administrator license. Federal prosecutors have charged him with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms after agents say they found a loaded handgun wrapped under the driver’s seat, a fixed‑blade hunting knife and about $3,000 in his vehicle following an episode in which he briefly fled and abandoned the car; he is in U.S. Marshals/Justice Department custody awaiting prosecution. DHS/ICE records allege an extensive criminal history dating to 1996 — including narcotics and weapons charges and convictions — and show he had no lawful work authorization since 2020 with multiple denied green card applications. Des Moines officials say a third party conducted a background check and Roberts presented identity documents and claimed citizenship, but reporting found vetting failures after background checks flagged that a doctorate listed on his resume was not completed and contractors reviewing his I-9 and fingerprints produced conflicting information. Additional reporting revealed a sealed Jackson County, Missouri restraining order from August 2023 and past settlements and complaints from his time in Millcreek, Pennsylvania, where the district is reviewing possible legal action over allegedly falsified employment documents. The case has prompted community protests and calls for transparency and preservation of district records; Roberts’ attorney says he will plead not guilty and investigations and potential civil claims continue.