Hear from attorney Alfredo Parrish on Ian Roberts’ plea deal
Hear from attorney Alfredo Parrish as he talks with reporters about former Des Moines superintendent Ian Roberts and the guilty plea he accepted.
Des Moines’ former schools superintendent, once a rising star in education, has pleaded guilty to two federal criminal offenses related to his immigration status and firearm possession.
Ian Roberts’ pleas came in a Thursday, Jan. 22, hearing in federal court in Des Moines. His sentencing is set for May 29, and any prison term is likely to be followed by deportation to his native Guyana.
In his first public appearance in Des Moines since his arrest, Roberts, escorted by U.S. marshals, wore a jail-issued uniform in two shades of green, with “Polk County Jail” printed on the back, and had chains around his waist and hands. It was an unfamiliar look for a man typically seen in fitted suits.
He responded confidently and firmly to questions from the magistrate judge, stating that he is 55 years old.
Hired to lead the state’s largest school district in 2023, Roberts resigned Sept. 30, days after he was arrested while allegedly trying to flee from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who sought him in connection with a previously unreported deportation order by an immigration judge in Texas.
Federal officials have since said Roberts, contrary to representations he made in connection with his hiring, was not a U.S. citizen and lacked legal authorization to work in the United States.
Those were among multiple other apparent mistruths and exaggerations about his background and qualifications.
Roberts was indicted Oct. 16 for possessing a firearm as an illegal alien and making a false statement for employment. Prosecutors alleged that Roberts illegally had four guns, including a loaded handgun left in his district-owned vehicle after he fled from ICE, and that he falsely attested he was a United States citizen when filling out his I-9 employment authorization to work in Des Moines.
Roberts had denied wrongdoing, and his attorneys suggested they planned to challenge the validity of his underlying immigration proceedings. But on Wednesday, prosecutors filed a plea deal in which Roberts admitted to both charges. He formally pleaded in Thursday’s hearing before a federal magistrate judge, saying, “Guilty, your honor.”
The plea deal does not commit either side to recommend any particular sentence, but does promise that prosecutors will not bring any further charges against Roberts or anyone else related to the guns and false statements at issue in the case.
Speaking after the hearing, defense attorney Alfredo Parrish said it was “not one of the happiest moments in my legal career” but that Roberts had made the choice to take the plea.
“He wanted to accept responsibility, and that’s what he did,” Parrish said. “He wanted to accept responsibility so he could move on.”
Ian Roberts could face prison, deportation after sentencing
During Thursday’s hearing, Roberts did not speak except to answer questions from the court, confirming he understood his rights and he wished to plead guilty to both charges.
Parrish told the court that the team had discussed with Roberts a number of potential defenses, including an “advice of counsel” defense based on information Roberts had received from an immigration attorney who represented him in the Texas case.
Parrish also noted possible Second Amendment defenses, including that Roberts had safety concerns due to his past work as a police officer in Guyana and threats he’d received while working in Des Moines.
Ultimately, Parrish said and Roberts confirmed, Roberts elected to take the plea deal.
Next up in the case is sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger. The maximum sentences are five years for false statements and 15 years for the gun charge, but Roberts also could receive as little as probation.
Roberts also faces probable deportation after serving any sentence he receives, pursuant to the 2024 deportation order issued in Texas.
The plea agreement notes that he “may be subject to immediate removal from the United States” after serving his sentence, and his plea will limit his ability to challenge the deportation proceedings.
Roberts’ arrest and subsequent revelations have caused turmoil for the school district. Legislators have called for a state takeover and the district has requested a state audit. In a statement, it declined to comment on Roberts’ plea.
Recently departed School Board Chair Jackie Norris described the criminal consequences facing Roberts as unfortunate but necessary.
“As human beings, we should never celebrate another person’s downfall — especially someone who once held a position of trust in the lives of many DMPS staff and students,” she said in a statement. “At the same time, it is essential that our young people see that integrity, honesty and respect for the law matter, and that actions carry consequences.”
Staff writer Samantha Hernandez contributed to this article.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at [email protected] or 715-573-8166.
