Conroe ICE Officer Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor in Detainee Assault Case

A detention officer has entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge. The officer has pleaded guilty to using excessive force against a detainee at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, months after his arrest on a federal civil rights charge.

Charles Siringi, 66, a former chief investigator at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding facility in Conroe, faced initial charges in May for a felony count related to the deprivation of rights under color of law. A charge has arisen from an incident in March, where federal agents reported an unnecessary and violent application of force against a migrant detainee.

Prosecutors reported that Siringi entered a room where another employee of the GEO Group, the private company managing the facility, was in conversation with the detainee. Court records reveal that Siringi instructed the other officer to “get him” before forcefully pushing the man against a wall.

According to the charging documents, Siringi allegedly pulled the detainee across the room, applied pressure to his throat until he struggled to breathe, and forcefully struck his head against a window, resulting in noticeable marks on the back of his neck.

Investigators later received testimony from witnesses and other GEO Group employees, who deemed Siringi's actions unnecessary and unprovoked. The investigation was spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, which meticulously examined surveillance footage and staff reports before passing its findings to federal prosecutors.

The Montgomery Processing Center, a privately run ICE detention facility located north of Houston, accommodates several hundred migrants who are waiting for their immigration court hearings or deportation proceedings. The GEO Group, which manages the facility under a federal contract, has come under fire recently. 

The facility accommodates detainees due to allegations of mistreatment and insufficient oversight. Siringi has entered a guilty plea, resulting in the reduction of his original felony charge to a misdemeanor. However, specifics regarding the sentencing have not yet been disclosed. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not provided any information regarding Siringi's employment status with the GEO Group.

Federal officials highlighted that the case underscores the need for continuous monitoring in privately managed detention facilities.

The Department of Homeland Security is actively observing incidents involving the use of force at ICE facilities across the country, responding to increasing demands from advocacy groups for greater transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement practices.