Florida Officer Accused of Living as Dead Man for Four Years

WHO:

US Magazine - Brian Sguros was identified as an officer with the Lauderhill Police Department.

NBC News - The deceased man was identified as Dennis West.

TMZ - Brian Louis Sguros is identified as a Florida police officer accused of assuming a dead man’s identity.

NY Post - A Florida police officer is accused of taking over a dead man’s home and posing as him.

NY Post - The officer allegedly sued the deceased homeowner’s heirs for reimbursement for renovations.

WHAT:

US Magazine - Sguros was arrested on a warrant on October 20.

TMZ - Authorities say Sguros found a man dead during a welfare check, moved into the man’s residence, renovated it, and lived there while assuming the man’s identity.

NY Post - The officer allegedly took over the deceased man’s home, used his identity, and renovated the residence.

NY Post - The officer was caught after suing the owner’s heirs for renovation reimbursement.

WHERE:

TMZ - The events occurred in Florida.

NY Post - The home was in Florida.

WHEN:

US Magazine - The article says Sguros was taken into custody on Tuesday, October 20.

NBC News - West was found dead in his Florida home in July 2022.

TMZ - The officer allegedly lived at the residence and assumed the man’s identity for four years.

NY Post - The officer allegedly posed as the deceased man for four years.

HOW:

TMZ - The officer allegedly moved into the residence after finding the man dead during a welfare check, renovated it, and assumed the man’s identity.

NY Post - The officer allegedly used the man’s identity and was exposed when he sued the heirs for renovation costs.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 22:20 UTC)

A Lauderhill, Florida, police officer is accused of moving into a dead man’s home and living under his identity for four years. Authorities identify the officer as Brian Louis Sguros and the deceased homeowner as Dennis West. Investigators say Sguros found West dead during a welfare check, then allegedly took over the residence, renovated it and presented himself as West. West’s relatives reportedly became the focus of a lawsuit when Sguros sought reimbursement for the renovation expenses. That legal claim helped expose the alleged identity scheme. West was found dead in his home in July 2022. Sguros was arrested on a warrant on October 20. He is accused of taking over the home and impersonating West, allegations that have led to his arrest.

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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 21:23 UTC)

A Florida police officer, Brian Louis Sguros, is accused of moving into a dead man’s home and assuming his identity for four years. Authorities say Sguros discovered the man during a welfare check, then took over the residence and renovated it. The homeowner was identified as Dennis West, who was found dead in his Florida home in July 2022. Sguros allegedly continued living there while posing as West. The case came to light after Sguros sued West’s heirs, seeking reimbursement for the renovation costs. The lawsuit reportedly exposed the alleged scheme and prompted scrutiny of how the officer had used West’s identity. Sguros is accused of both taking over the home and presenting himself as its deceased owner.

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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 15:49 UTC)

A Florida police officer is accused of moving into a dead man’s home and living under his identity for four years. The officer is identified as Brian Louis Sguros. Authorities say Sguros discovered the man’s body while conducting a welfare check, then took over the residence. He allegedly renovated the home and continued living there while posing as its deceased owner. The case reportedly came to light after Sguros sued the homeowner’s heirs, seeking reimbursement for the renovation costs. The allegations describe an officer using the identity of the person he had found dead, while occupying and improving the man’s property. Sguros is accused of maintaining that arrangement for four years before his lawsuit exposed it.

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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 15:07 UTC)

A Florida police officer, Brian Louis Sguros, is accused of moving into a deceased man’s home and posing as him for four years. Authorities say Sguros found the man dead during a welfare check, then renovated the residence and assumed his identity. He was allegedly exposed after suing the homeowner’s heirs for reimbursement for the renovations.