By Hannah FingerhutThe Related Press
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The previous superintendent of Iowa’s largest faculty district is predicted to plead responsible Jan. 22 in federal court docket to fees that he falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen and illegally possessed firearms, a plea settlement exhibits.
Ian Roberts had a two-decade lengthy profession as an educator and college administrator in districts throughout the U.S. earlier than changing into superintendent of Des Moines Public Colleges, a district of 30,000 children the place he was beloved for his charismatic and exuberant management fashion.
Simply weeks into the varsity 12 months, Roberts’ Sept. 26 arrest in a focused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation surprised group members and attracted nationwide consideration.
A local of Guyana in South America, Roberts initially pleaded not responsible to the 2 fees, which collectively carry a most sentence of 20 years in jail. Roberts is predicted to plead responsible to each fees, in line with a plea settlement signed by Roberts and launched Jan. 21.
The plea settlement additionally signifies that Roberts is conscious he might face deportation after he serves his sentence.
Roberts was pulled over in his school-issued Jeep Cherokee and allegedly fled from federal brokers, who discovered the automotive deserted close to a wooded space and situated Roberts with the assistance of state troopers. Authorities mentioned they discovered a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel underneath the seat and $3,000 in money within the automotive.
A federal grand jury in October returned a two-count indictment. Based on the settlement, Roberts admits he knowingly and deliberately made a “false attestation” on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers Employment Eligibility Verification type, often known as an I-9, that he submitted in Des Moines, claiming he was a U.S. citizen despite the fact that he lacked authorization. That carries a punishment of as much as 5 years in jail and a high quality.
Roberts accomplished the I-9 type when he was employed in 2023 and submitted a Social Safety card and driver’s license as verifying paperwork, in line with the district. He additionally said he was a U.S. citizen in his software to the state board of instructional examiners, which issued Roberts an expert administrator license in 2023.
Federal officers mentioned Roberts first entered the U.S. in 1994 on a nonimmigrant visa. They mentioned he returned in 1999 on an F-1 pupil visa, which was set to run out in March 2004. He was denied a inexperienced card software in 2003, in line with the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety.
His subsequent listed interplay with USCIS was in 2018, when he in the end obtained work authorization. Authorities mentioned his second software for work authorization was authorized, expiring in December 2020, and that he has not had work authorization since then.
Roberts was topic to a discover to seem earlier than an immigration choose in October 2020 and a remaining removing order in 2024, authorities mentioned. District officers mentioned they weren’t conscious of the immigration points.
Alfredo Parrish, one in all Roberts’ attorneys, has mentioned his consumer was underneath the impression from a previous legal professional that his immigration case was “resolved efficiently.”
Parrish declined to remark Jan. 21.
Roberts additionally faces a federal weapons cost, punishable by as much as 15 years in jail and a high quality. The indictment describes two pistols, a rifle and a shotgun present in Roberts’ possession. Along with the one in his automobile when he was arrested, three firearms have been discovered throughout a search of Roberts’ residence, authorities mentioned.
Roberts will conform to forfeit the weapons, in line with the settlement.
The listening to was scheduled after Roberts’ legal professionals mentioned in a court docket submitting that that they had been negotiating with prosecutors to achieve a decision forward of a Jan. 28 deadline. As a part of Roberts’ plea settlement, prosecutors within the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Southern District of Iowa agreed to not pursue further fees in opposition to Roberts or others associated to those counts. Prosecutors additionally agreed to advocate some leniency however Roberts’ sentence is in the end as much as the choose.
Roberts waived his proper to be current at his arraignment in October, when he pleaded not responsible. A trial had been scheduled to start in early March.
