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Prosecution recommends 3-year sentence for former Guyana-born Des Moines superintendent
(WeareIowa) DES MOINES, Iowa — Government prosecutors in Ian Roberts’ case are recommending the former Des Moines superintendent serve 30 to 37 months in a U.S. prison before he is likely deported.
Roberts, a native of Guyana in South America, has been federally charged with providing a false statement of employment and possessing firearms as an illegal immigrant. He pled guilty to both counts in January.
As part of Roberts’ plea agreement, prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa agreed to not pursue additional charges against Roberts, according to a court filing.
District officials had requested the reaudit due to concerns regarding financial transactions by former superintendent Ian Roberts.
In a sentencing memorandum filed on Friday, prosecutors argue that Roberts’ conduct represents a breach of public trust.
“Defendant’s reputation in the community is both mitigating and aggravating,” the document reads. “Defendant will highlight the teachers, students, and education professionals his work shaped and improved. Nevertheless, Defendant placed his self-interest above the law and the duty he owed the public he served.”
Prosecutors’ recommendation of 30 to 37 months is derived from federal sentencing guidelines. Roberts falls into the lowest of five criminal history categories, and his offense level, which is intended to represent the severity of his charges, ranks a 19 out of 43.
Prosecutors argue a time-served sentence of eight months, which would recognize the time Roberts has already spent in jail, “would not reflect the seriousness of his conduct.” As justification for this assertion, prosecutors reference the following unlawful conduct by Roberts:
Obtaining a counterfeit social security card to gain employment at Des Moines Public Schools.
Lacking employment authorization for all but 18 months of his 15-year career in education.
‘Us[ing] others,’ namely his spouse, to purchase firearms on his behalf when he could not legally do so.
Of the four-firearms law enforcement found in Roberts’ car and house, his spouse purchased three. Documents also state that Roberts flew with the firearms — actions prosecutors describe as a “separate, serious pattern of conduct.”
Furthermore, prosecutors argue Roberts’ likely deportation should not sway the judge toward a lesser sentence.
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