Sargus served as the solicitor for a number of municipalities, including Bellaire, Powhatan Point, and Bethesda, and was a member of the City Council of St. Clairsville, Ohio from 1988 to 1991.

In this role, he headed the office which prosecuted all federal crimes in the district, which includes the cities of Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton.

Notable cases included the prosecution of a large Columbus-based gang known as the Short North Posse, indictment and conviction of Barry Kessler on charges of interstate murder for hire, and the conviction of Herbert Steinler of defrauding the United States in conjunction of the sale of F-16 jets to Israel.

Sargus was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 22, 1996, and received his commission on August 1, 1996.

[5] His wife, Jennifer Sargus, was a Judge of the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas.