Guyanese-born former Iowa school superintendent Ian Roberts has been sentenced to two years in federal prison in the United States after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of firearms and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
Roberts, a former Olympian who represented Guyana at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, received the sentence in federal court. The term includes credit for approximately eight months already served. His attorney said there are no plans to appeal the sentence.
Roberts served as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools for just over two years before being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in September 2025.
According to prosecutors, a loaded handgun was found in his vehicle at the time of his arrest, while three additional firearms were later recovered from his residence. Authorities said Roberts was not authorized to work in the United States after December 2020 and, because of his immigration status, was prohibited from legally possessing firearms.
Following his arrest, a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and making false statements in connection with employment. The false-statement charge stemmed from allegations that Roberts claimed U.S. citizenship on a federal employment verification form submitted during his hiring by the Des Moines school district.
Roberts later pleaded guilty to both counts. He faced a maximum sentence of 15 years on the firearms charge and up to five years for making false statements.
Federal prosecutors had sought a 37-month prison sentence, arguing that Roberts “betrayed the public’s trust” by misrepresenting his citizenship status to obtain a senior public-sector position and by unlawfully possessing firearms while residing in the country without legal authorization.
They said his actions reflected “a longstanding and deliberate pattern spanning more than 15 years” and contended that a custodial sentence was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the offences and deter similar conduct.
Defence attorneys requested probation, arguing that Roberts had accepted responsibility for his actions, posed no danger to the community and would ultimately be deported from the United States.
They said probation would help “facilitate his removal from the United States” and described Roberts as a dedicated public servant who had spent much of his career working in education.
Prosecutors rejected that argument, maintaining that the prospect of deportation should not diminish the seriousness of the crimes or lessen the need for deterrence.
Roberts resigned from his position days after his arrest. His departure came after state authorities revoked his administrator’s licence and the Des Moines School Board placed him on unpaid leave while seeking proof of his legal authorization to work in the United States.
According to court records, Roberts entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa that expired in 2004. Authorities said he had no valid work authorization and was issued a final order of removal in 2024.
He is expected to be deported after completing his prison sentence.
