Former Iowa school superintendent Ian Roberts to plead guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegal gun possession.

Former Olympic runner and Guyanese native Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, is anticipated to enter a guilty plea to federal charges of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on employment documents and illegally carrying a firearm while in the nation. Roberts was apprehended in September 2025 after escaping immigration officers in a car provided by the school. He was found in possession of a loaded handgun and $3,000 in cash; more firearms were found at his residence. In 2023, he acknowledged filing a fraudulent I-9 form, claiming U.S. citizenship even though they are not legally permitted to work. Roberts, who was undergoing immigration proceedings and had a previous removal order, thought his case was settled. A recommendation for leniency, the forfeiture of firearms, and possible deportation following any prison sentence are all part of the plea deal. The plea has taken the place of a trial set for March 2026.