Des Moines school district sues executive‑search firm after hiring Ian Roberts, who was arrested by ICE
The Des Moines Independent Community School District sued JG Consulting (doing business as One‑Fourth Consulting) in Polk County, alleging breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and negligence for failing to properly vet Ian Roberts — whom the district hired as superintendent in 2023 — and is seeking monetary damages tied to replacement costs and reputational harm. Roberts was detained by ICE on Sept. 26, 2025 after agents say he fled from law enforcement, abandoned a school‑issued vehicle where a loaded handgun and other weapons and cash were found and said he was subject to a final removal order from 2024; the arrest prompted his leave/resignation, revocation of his license and multiple federal and civil probes into the hiring and background‑check process.
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📌 Key Facts
- Ian Roberts, hired as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in 2023, was detained by ICE on Sept. 26, 2025 after agents say he fled from a school‑issued vehicle into a wooded area; he was held at Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, later transferred into federal custody, and has appeared in federal court.
- ICE and DHS say Roberts overstayed a 1999 student visa, had an employment authorization card that expired in 2020, and was subject to a final order of removal issued May 22, 2024 (an April 24, 2025 motion to reopen had been denied); his attorneys have filed for stays and a motion to reopen under seal, and Alfredo Parrish is representing him.
- Federal prosecutors charged Roberts with possessing firearms while unlawfully present in the U.S.; authorities allege multiple guns were recovered — including a loaded handgun found in the vehicle he used to flee — and search‑warrant details say additional firearms were found in his home; agents also recovered a fixed‑blade hunting knife and about $3,000 in cash.
- Des Moines Public Schools initially placed Roberts on paid administrative leave, then on unpaid leave as the situation evolved; he submitted a resignation, and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his superintendent license.
- The district says its I‑9 and vetting were completed by third‑party vendors and private background checks in 2023 did not reveal immigration issues; in response, the Des Moines Independent Community School District sued JG Consulting (doing business as One‑Fourth Consulting) in Polk County, alleging breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and negligence and seeking monetary damages for replacement costs and reputational harm.
- Independent checks and Associated Press‑obtained records indicate Roberts’ resume was inflated — including a false claim of a doctoral degree — and Morgan State and MIT records do not confirm the graduate credentials he listed.
- The case prompted protests in Des Moines, political backlash (including calls from Rep. Ashley Hinson for the school board chair’s resignation), and probes by state and federal authorities: Iowa Republicans sought preservation of hiring documents, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division opened a review of the district’s hiring practices, and the Iowa Department of Education and state boards said they were reviewing procedures.
- District leaders, including school board chair Jackie Norris, said the board felt it had been deceived and asked Roberts’ legal team for documentation proving his legal right to work; Roberts’ attorneys have said he will plead not guilty and pursue immigration relief.
📚 Contextual Background
- The United States federal government entered a partial shutdown on 2025-10-01 after the midnight funding deadline passed with Democrats and Republicans failing to agree on a funding bill.
📰 Sources (17)
Des Moines school district sues firm behind hiring of illegal alien superintendent
New information:
- The Des Moines Independent Community School District sued JG Consulting (doing business as One‑Fourth Consulting) in Iowa District Court for Polk County, alleging breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and general negligence.
- The lawsuit says JG Consulting failed to properly vet Ian Roberts and referred him despite his inability to lawfully hold the superintendent position; the district is seeking monetary damages tied to replacement costs and reputational harm.
- Contextual details: Roberts was hired in May 2023 at a $270,000 salary and was arrested by ICE last month after agents found a loaded handgun in his car.
Questions arise after ICE arrests superintendent of Iowa's largest public school system
New information:
- Des Moines school district says it is suing the firm it hired to vet Ian Roberts
- CBS video reiterates that Roberts was hired in 2023 and that ICE detained him 'last week' and that authorities say he was not in the U.S. legally
School chief to suspect: ICE arrest of Des Moines superintendent exposes fake degrees, drug convictions
New information:
- DHS statement enumerates multiple prior convictions and charges spanning New York (1996 forgery/narcotics allegations), Maryland (2012 reckless driving), Pennsylvania (2022 unlawful possession of a loaded firearm), 2020 weapon charges, and a sealed restraining order from Jackson County, Missouri served Aug. 2023.
- DOJ/ICE search-warrant details claim three guns were found in Roberts' home with specific locations (loaded 9mm under living-room seat cushion; loaded rifle in master bedroom closet; shotgun behind the headboard); authorities also said a handgun was found in the vehicle Roberts used when fleeing ICE agents.
- University vetting: Morgan State University confirmed Roberts attended but 'did not receive a degree'; MIT’s Registrar said there is 'no record of enrollment' for him in MIT Sloan’s Executive MBA program, contradicting Roberts’ LinkedIn claims.
DHS reveals extensive criminal history of former Des Moines superintendent who was arrested, in US illegally
New information:
- DHS publicly detailed Roberts’ alleged extensive criminal history and specific prior offenses dating to 1996, 1998, 2012 and 2020.
- DHS/ICE quote from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin labeling Roberts a 'criminal illegal alien' and stating ICE found an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash at the time of arrest.
- Additional immigration timeline: multiple student visas, repeated entries, multiple green‑card applications denied, and a 2004 deportation order with a denied motion to reopen.
Arrested former Des Moines superintendent's resume appears to have been greatly exaggerated
New information:
- Associated Press‑obtained documents indicate Ian Roberts falsely claimed having a doctoral degree when applying for the Des Moines superintendent job.
- CBS News (citing AP documents) reports these credential misrepresentations in addition to previously reported ICE arrest and related local controversy.
Iowa lawmaker blasts 'laughing stock' Des Moines school board over hiring of superintendent arrested by ICE
New information:
- Rep. Ashley Hinson publicly demanded the resignation of Des Moines School Board chair Jackie Norris and called the district a 'laughing stock' following Roberts' arrest.
- Political context: Hinson and Norris are both running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst, linking the local hiring controversy to a statewide contest.
- Board response: Jackie Norris' statement framed the board as a 'victim of deception' and the board said it knew Roberts had not graduated from Morgan State University though his resume misstated a doctorate.
Former Iowa superintendent charged with federal firearms offense after immigration arrest
New information:
- Federal prosecutors charged Ian Roberts in federal court with possessing firearms while in the U.S. illegally.
- Court complaint alleges Roberts possessed four firearms; one handgun was found wrapped in a towel under the driver's seat of the Jeep Cherokee he was driving at arrest.
- Roberts has been jailed in Sioux City and appeared by video before a federal magistrate judge; his attorney Alfredo Parrish said he will plead not guilty.
Former Des Moines Schools superintendent taken into DOJ custody on federal firearms, immigration charges
New information:
- DOJ took Ian Roberts into federal custody on an arrest warrant and he made his first federal court appearance.
- Federal prosecutors say Roberts was found with four firearms on Sept. 26, 2025 and is charged with being unlawfully present in the U.S. while possessing firearms.
- Roberts was transferred from Woodbury County Jail (Sioux City) into federal custody; authorities reported a handgun was found in a vehicle used to flee pursuing ICE agents.
Iowa school superintendent resigns after ICE arrest rocks Des Moines district
New information:
- Ian Roberts submitted a resignation letter to the Des Moines Public Schools board (announced Tuesday).
- Roberts' attorneys said a motion to reopen his immigration case will be filed.
- The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has opened a probe into Des Moines Public Schools’ hiring practices to assess potential discrimination based on color, race or national origin.
- Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked Roberts’ educational license (noted on its website).
Iowa school leader detained by ICE seeks to put his deportation on hold, lawyers say
New information:
- Roberts' attorneys filed a request for a stay of deportation with the federal immigration court in Omaha; the filing was made under seal.
- Attorney Alfredo Parrish is representing Superintendent Ian Roberts and announced a planned news conference.
- Des Moines school board voted to put Roberts on unpaid leave; state board had stripped his superintendent license.
- Board chair Jackie Norris set a noon deadline for Roberts’ legal team to provide documentation proving he could legally work in the U.S.
- Roberts has been held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City since his arrest.
Illegal alien arrested by ICE found registered as active Democrat voter in blue state
New information:
- Maryland State Board of Elections records list Ian Andre Roberts as an active, registered Democrat voter in Maryland.
- House Freedom Caucus has sent a letter demanding answers from the Maryland State Board of Elections about alleged 'gaping holes' allowing a noncitizen to remain on voter rolls and about a prior elections‑board letter to DOJ expressing concerns about data being used for immigration enforcement.
- Specific case details reiterated: Roberts overstayed a student visa from 1999, his employment authorization expired in 2020, he had a final order of removal in 2024, and ICE recovered a vehicle containing $3,000 in cash, a fixed‑blade hunting knife and a loaded Glock 19.
Ex Michelle Obama aide leads Des Moines school board's defense of superintendent arrested by ICE
New information:
- DMPS school board chair Jackie Norris — who served as Michelle Obama’s White House chief of staff — publicly defended Ian Roberts and urged 'radical empathy' as his case proceeds.
- Iowa Republicans have opened a wider probe into the hiring process; the House Government Oversight Committee sent DMPS a letter directing preservation of hiring documents.
- ICE (ERO St. Paul) official Sam Olson said Roberts was arrested after fleeing law enforcement and that a loaded handgun was found in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools; ICE says Roberts had a final order of removal issued in May 2024.
- DMPS says an I-9 was completed but it was conducted by a third‑party vendor, per the district (district response noted in the article).
Des Moines school superintendent placed on leave after ICE detention
New information:
- Des Moines School Board voted unanimously to place Superintendent Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave and named the associate superintendent to serve in his stead.
- ICE says Roberts was subject to a final removal order issued in 2024; agents stopped him while he was driving a school‑issued vehicle and say he fled into a wooded area before Iowa State Patrol assisted in his apprehension.
- Iowa Department of Education said Roberts stated he was a U.S. citizen when applying for an administrator license and the state board had conducted criminal history checks before issuing a license; the state is reviewing district hiring procedures.
- Roberts retained a Des Moines law firm (attorney Alfredo Parrish) to represent him; the district and a private background‑check contractor said prior screens (2023) did not reveal citizenship issues.
- Biographical details: Roberts said he was born to Guyanese immigrant parents, served in the Guyana police earlier in life, and competed for Guyana in the 2000 Olympics; ICE says he originally entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999.
Social media erupts after ICE arrest of superintendent in Iowa: 'Crazy story'
New information:
- ICE ERO St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson is quoted directly, calling the arrest a 'wake‑up call' and identifying the case as a public‑safety removal.
- ICE says agents found a loaded handgun in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools that was used by Roberts to flee from law enforcement.
- Account that Roberts abandoned his car in the woods and was later located by the Iowa State Patrol after attempting to drive away from ICE agents.
- District statement that an I‑9 had been completed by a third‑party vendor and that the district said it was not aware of Roberts' final order of removal.
Protests erupt over ICE detaining beloved Iowa public school superintendent
New information:
- Protests erupted in Des Moines after ICE detained the superintendent
- CBS identifies the detained official as Ian Andre Roberts and reports ICE says he overstayed a student visa from 1999
Iowa school superintendent arrested by ICE, facing prior weapons charges, allegedly found with loaded handgun
New information:
- ICE says Roberts fled a vehicle and was located about 200 yards away in brush after the vehicle was abandoned.
- Agents recovered a loaded Glock 19, a fixed‑blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash inside the vehicle used to flee.
- ICE alleges the vehicle was provided by Des Moines Public Schools and emphasized Roberts was in possession of a loaded weapon in that vehicle.
- Confirming prior immigration proceedings: a judge ordered his deportation on May 22, 2024, and an April 24, 2025 motion to reopen was denied.
- Employment authorization lapse: Roberts' work authorization card expired in 2020; he was hired as DMPS superintendent on July 1, 2023.
- Direct ICE quote from Sam Olson characterizing the arrest as removal of a 'public safety threat.'
Des Moines, Iowa, public school leader detained by immigration agents, school board says
New information:
- Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was detained by ICE on Sept. 26, 2025 according to a school board statement.
- School board president Jackie Norris issued the statement saying the district has no confirmed information about the reason for the detention or next steps.
- ICE custody is reported at a county jail in western Iowa; a Pottawattamie County jail employee said Roberts was not currently at their Council Bluffs jail (about 130 miles west of Des Moines).