Essential Insights:
- A report from Iowa reveals that Des Moines schools conducted an incomplete background check while hiring Ian Roberts, a former principal from Baltimore.
- Investigators suspect that Roberts provided a likely fraudulent doctoral transcript.
- A lawsuit filed by the district accuses the consulting firm of failing to adequately check immigration and criminal records.
- Roberts is currently facing federal charges for misrepresenting his U.S. citizenship and for illegal possession of firearms.
DES MOINES, Iowa — The largest school district in Iowa released a report on Friday, indicating that it received a limited background check and likely a forged transcript during the hiring of its former superintendent. This individual has since been indicted on federal charges for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on official forms.
In 2023, Des Moines Public Schools brought Ian Roberts on board, aided by a national consulting agency known as JG Consulting. This firm initially recommended Roberts along with four other candidates to the school board, according to an investigative report commissioned by the district.
The investigation, conducted by attorney Melissa Schilling from Des Moines, concluded that the school board reasonably depended on JG Consulting to thoroughly vet Roberts and disclose any limitations in their vetting process. The district may utilize this report as part of their ongoing lawsuit against the Texas-based consulting firm, which asserts that the district is trying to pass the blame.
A federal grand jury recently indicted Roberts, who originally hails from Guyana, and he was taken into custody by federal agents on September 26. Having resigned from his position, Roberts is currently in federal custody, awaiting trial set for March.
During the hiring process, Roberts claimed U.S. citizenship on his employment eligibility form, submitting a driver’s license and a Social Security card as documentation. Schilling indicated that Des Moines schools relied on the consulting firm to address any immigration issues since JG Consulting had informed the district that they were a registered agent with the government’s employment verification system, “E-Verify.”
The E-Verify system crosschecks the information submitted by employers against federal records maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. However, the system has acknowledged shortcomings, as seen in a recent case involving a police officer in Maine who was arrested even after passing an E-Verify check.
It remains “unknown” whether JG Consulting utilized E-Verify during the hiring process, Schilling noted.
In a legal filing, JG Consulting contested that they bore no responsibility for the vetting process. A spokesperson did not offer immediate comments regarding the report released on Friday.
The court documents state: “The District had the legal duty to verify Roberts’ immigration status and work authorization as his employer, but it evidently failed to do so. JG Consulting, as the non-hiring entity, was legally unable to confirm Roberts’ immigration or work authorization status.”
According to the agreement, Des Moines Public Schools paid JG Consulting $35,000 to facilitate the search for a new superintendent.
Throughout a nine-year tenure, Roberts held several roles, including teacher, special education coordinator, and principal within Baltimore City Public Schools. He was also recognized as an accomplished track and field athlete at Coppin State University.
Inadequate Background Check
Schilling’s report revealed that the background check conducted by JG Consulting, through a subcontractor named Baker-Eubanks, looked only at records from the past seven years. This limitation contradicts federal laws, which permit more extensive checks for positions with salaries exceeding $75,000.
Schilling pointed out that various state laws could restrict access to records for arrests or charges that did not lead to a conviction.
Since his arrest, federal authorities listed several criminal charges against Roberts, including a 1996 drug possession charge in New York. It is noted that state law might have restricted the complete disclosure of that information. The outcome of that charge has not been detailed.
Nevertheless, Schilling noted that a reckless driving conviction in Maryland in 2012 would likely have been identified in a more thorough background check. She emphasized that this conviction might not have surfaced due to the seven-year limit of the check.
Importantly, the background check did reveal a 2022 weapons charge in Pennsylvania, which Roberts had addressed. He was convicted of a minor infraction for unlawfully possessing a loaded hunting rifle in a vehicle. JG Consulting labeled this conviction as a “blemish” when recommending Roberts to the board.
Authorities have also charged Roberts with illegal firearm possession while in the U.S. unlawfully. He reportedly had access to four firearms, including one that was discovered wrapped in a towel in the school-issued vehicle during his arrest.
Roberts was required to disclose any past misdemeanor, felony, or significant traffic violations, including DUIs, on his application, as stated in JG Consulting’s job profile. However, it remains unclear how he responded to this query.
Potentially Forged Transcript
In his application, Roberts erroneously claimed to have received a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University in 2007, as revealed by documents obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request.
Schilling confirmed that board members were presented with this resume by JG Consulting during the hiring process. However, during his in-person interview, Roberts submitted paper copies of a different resume stating that he had completed “abd,” meaning he had finished all but his dissertation.
Although Roberts was enrolled in the doctoral program from 2002 to 2007, the university’s public relations department confirmed via email that he did not earn that degree. The specific requirements he failed to meet have not been disclosed, and the university has refused to provide either The Associated Press or Schilling with his transcript.
Schilling expressed her strong belief that the transcript Roberts provided with his application was indeed forged. Although the background check highlighted this discrepancy, interviews with the board members indicated that JG Consulting did not address the issue.
JG Consulting contends that the district was already aware that Roberts had not completed his doctorate from that institution.
In their legal documentation, the consulting firm argued that the district is attempting to deflect blame for its “hiring and employment shortcomings.” They stated, “The District cannot redirect blame for its failures and oversights since it was aware of Roberts’ criminal background and resume discrepancies and still chose to proceed with his hiring.”
Original article by Hannah Fingerhut The Associated Press.
