Investigation Points to Consultant Failure in Superintendent Scandal
A damning report has concluded that Iowa's largest school district was justified in relying on a national consulting firm that failed to uncover critical issues with a superintendent who was later arrested by immigration authorities. The investigation into Des Moines Public Schools' hiring of Ian Roberts in 2023 found the district received an incomplete background check and a likely forged academic transcript from the Texas-based JG Consulting.
Systemic Failures in Vetting Process Uncovered
According to the report by attorney Melissa Schilling, the school board reasonably relied on JG Consulting to conduct proper due diligence. The firm had been hired for a $35,000 fee to facilitate the superintendent search and had reportedly presented itself as a registered agent with the E-Verify system, the government's employment eligibility database.
However, the investigation revealed the background check, subcontracted to Baker-Eubanks, only covered the past seven years. This was despite federal law permitting more extensive checks for positions paying over $75,000. A 2012 conviction for reckless driving in Maryland was consequently missed.
The probe also confirmed that Roberts falsely claimed a doctorate from Morgan State University on his application. Schilling wrote she was fairly confident the transcript provided was forged. While a different resume Roberts brought to his interview indicated he had not completed the doctorate, board members were reportedly not alerted to the discrepancy by the consultants.
Legal Fallout and Ongoing Consequences
The situation unravelled on 26 September, when federal agents arrested Roberts. A federal grand jury has since issued a two-count indictment against him for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen on a work eligibility form. Roberts, originally from Guyana, is now in federal custody with a trial scheduled for March.
Further complicating the case, authorities revealed a history of criminal charges in Roberts' record, including a 1996 drug possession charge in New York and a recent conviction for unlawfully possessing a loaded hunting rifle. He now also faces charges for unlawfully possessing a firearm while being in the country illegally.
In a court filing, JG Consulting disputes its responsibility, arguing the legal duty to verify work authorization rested with the district as the employer. The firm accused the district of trying to shift blame for its own hiring and employment shortcomings. Des Moines Public Schools is likely to use the investigator's report in its ongoing lawsuit against the consulting company.
