Dear Vector Prime, I couldn’t help but notice that the Malgus Swindle’s purple optics imply he was thrown in the cyber-stockades like Wasp.
Dear Optic Observer,
While optical pigment degeneration can happen for a variety of reasons, you are correct that in Swindle's case, it was caused by his long stint within the Stockade. The particular variety of energon they serve is low on several wavelengths which cause the degeneration as one of its side effects. While it is possible for this to be fixed, it's sometimes maintained by bots who feel their sentences were unjust, as a badge of honor.
Swindle is one of these, claiming he was "a patriot, not an Autobot" and that his imprisonment during the Great War was done simply because he had become too profitable through trading with both sides.
Ultra Magnus notably commented that selling the Decepticons a large supply of mycopropeline to use on Paradron was beyond any notions of neutrality, and few felt that his sentence was harsh.