Former head of Iowa's largest school district to be sentenced for claiming to be a US citizen

The former head of Iowa's largest school district is due in court Friday to learn his prison term for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen and illegally possessing firearms. Ian Roberts, a Guyana-born superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools serving about 30,000 students, pleaded guilty in January to counts carrying a combined 20-year maximum. His lawyers urge probation to aid removal from the U.S., while prosecutors seek a 37-month sentence. Roberts allegedly lacked employment authorization for much of his career and used a counterfeit Social Security card at hire. A September 26 arrest preceded the search that uncovered a handgun and cash, plus additional weapons at his home.