Former corrections officer Richard Wargo has entered a guilty plea for perjury related to a federal civil rights investigation into allegations of excessive force used at Pender Correctional Institution (PCI). Wargo, aged 37, could serve up to five years in prison following his sentencing, which is scheduled for later in the year, according to the Justice Department.
The FBI sparked an inquiry into PCI's alleged misconduct after reports surfaced in 2022 of officers mistreating inmates. Wargo was working a night shift on November 17, 2021, when the specific incident under scrutiny occurred. Officers, at that time, took an inmate supposedly intoxicated to a building without surveillance cameras and physically assaulted him, resulting in serious injuries. In defiance of prison policies, Wargo, who was implicated in the assault prepared the incident report and failed to mention his involvement.
During an interview with the FBI in August 2023, Wargo misrepresented his involvement in the incident, claiming he had merely filed the report and did not witness, nor participate in, the use of force. This narrative crumbled, however, when challenged with testimonies from fellow officers during a federal grand jury on August 22, 2023. It emerged that not only was Wargo present, but he actively took part in the assault, as stated by the Justice Department.
In a subsequent recorded interview on February 26, 2024, Wargo persisted in his denials but ultimately conceded his presence and engagement when confronted with incontrovertible evidence. Daniel P. Bubar, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the plea after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted it. The FBI's investigation led to these developments, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh leading the prosecution efforts.
