Former Iowa school superintendent arrested by ICE expected to plead guilty to federal charges

The former superintendent of Iowa's largest school district is set to plead guilty Thursday to a pair of federal charges following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last year. 

Ian Roberts, a native of Guyana in South America and once the leader of Des Moines Public Schools, was detained by federal immigration officers on Sept. 26, 2025. He resigned from his position shortly afterward. 

In October, Roberts initially pleaded not guilty to one count of making...