Florida Officer Accused of Taking Dead Man’s Home and Identity
WHO:
ABC News US - A Florida police officer is accused of taking possession of a deceased man’s home and impersonating him.
The Guardian - The officer is Brian Louis Sguros, 35, an officer with the Lauderhill Police Department near Miami.
The Guardian - The deceased man was Dennis West, a Lauderhill resident.
The Guardian - West’s heirs sold the property to a real estate company.
The Guardian - Sguros’s spouse joined him in filing a claim to establish ownership of the property.
The Guardian - Sguros could not be reached for comment; the article said it was unclear whether he had an attorney.
WHAT:
ABC News - Sguros faces up to five felony charges.
BBC - Court documents say Sguros appeared in body-camera footage during the welfare check.
The Guardian - Sguros appeared in court on charges including official misconduct and criminal use of a deceased person’s identification and was released on $25,000 bond.
The Guardian - After West’s death, Sguros allegedly represented himself to the Broward County medical examiner’s office as West’s friend and said West had no living family; authorities said there was no indication Sguros knew West and that the family claim was untrue.
The Guardian - A 21-page arrest affidavit alleges Sguros forged West’s signature on multiple documents.
The Guardian - The affidavit alleges Sguros spent more than $210,000 of his own money upgrading the property, including replacing doors and windows.
The Guardian - Sguros allegedly used West’s identification and law-enforcement databases to access West’s driver’s license record, date of birth, Social Security number, and other personal information.
The Guardian - Sguros and his spouse filed an ownership claim with the Broward property appraiser’s office.
The Guardian - After a real estate company’s employee encountered him at the property, Sguros surrendered the keys and sued the company for compensation for renovation expenses.
The Guardian - Sguros was placed on paid administrative leave after his arrest.
WHERE:
The Guardian - West was found at his home in Lauderhill, Florida.
The Guardian - Sguros appeared in court in Fort Lauderdale.
The Guardian - The investigation was conducted by Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives.
WHEN:
ABC News US - The welfare check and discovery of West’s death occurred in 2022.
The Guardian - West was found in July 2022 after a neighbor called police out of concern; authorities said he died of natural causes.
The Guardian - Sguros allegedly began the scheme within weeks of West’s death.
The Guardian - The affidavit says Sguros spent money on renovations between August 2022 and February 2025; doors and windows were replaced in 2024.
The Guardian - Sguros and his spouse filed the ownership claim in February 2025.
The Guardian - The alleged scheme came to light in August 2025, when a company that had bought the property from West’s heirs sent an employee to take possession.
The Guardian - Sguros was arrested after a months-long investigation and appeared in court the following Wednesday.
WHY:
The Guardian - In sworn statements and civil pleadings, Sguros said he took possession and worked on the property because it was hazardous and he wanted to prevent criminal activity and squatting.
The Guardian - A neighbor told WSVN TV that Sguros said he planned to rent the renovated property on Airbnb and that West had given it to him before dying.
HOW:
ABC News - Court documents detail that Sguros appeared in body-camera footage during the welfare check and did not appear to have a prior relationship with West.
BBC - Court documents say Sguros did not appear to have a prior relationship with West.
The Guardian - Authorities said Sguros paid the property’s taxes and utilities in West’s name and used West’s identification to make it appear he was alive so the city of Lauderhill would issue a repair permit.
The Guardian - A neighbor said Sguros told her West was his friend and had given him the property.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 03:16 UTC)
A Florida police officer is accused of taking over a deceased man’s home and impersonating him. Brian Louis Sguros, a 35-year-old Lauderhill officer, allegedly began the scheme within weeks after Dennis West was found dead at home in 2022. Investigators say Sguros told the medical examiner West had no living family, despite authorities finding that claim untrue and no evidence the two knew each other. An arrest affidavit alleges Sguros forged West’s signature, used his personal information and paid taxes and utilities in his name. He also allegedly spent more than $210,000 renovating the property. West’s heirs later sold the home, and the alleged scheme surfaced when the buyer’s employee came to take possession. Sguros and his spouse had filed a claim to own the property. Sguros faces felony charges, including official misconduct, and was released on $25,000 bond. He is on paid administrative leave.
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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 23:08 UTC)
A Florida police officer is accused of taking over a deceased man’s home and impersonating him in an alleged scheme that lasted several years. Brian Louis Sguros, a 35-year-old Lauderhill officer, is charged in connection with the property of Dennis West, who was found dead at home in 2022. Authorities say Sguros told the medical examiner West had no living family, though investigators found no indication the two knew each other. An arrest affidavit alleges he forged West’s signature, used his personal information and law-enforcement databases, and paid taxes and utilities in West’s name. Sguros and his spouse also filed a claim to establish ownership. The affidavit says he spent more than $210,000 renovating the house. Sguros has said he acted to address safety concerns and prevent squatting. He appeared in court on charges including official misconduct and was released on $25,000 bond; he is on paid administrative leave.
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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 21:10 UTC)
A Florida police officer is accused of taking over a dead man’s home and impersonating him in an effort to claim the property. Brian Louis Sguros, a 35-year-old Lauderhill officer, allegedly began the scheme within weeks of Dennis West’s death in 2022. Investigators say Sguros told the medical examiner West had no living family, although authorities say that was untrue, and used West’s personal information to make it appear he was alive. A court affidavit also alleges Sguros forged West’s signature, paid the property’s bills, and spent more than $210,000 renovating the home. Sguros and his spouse later filed a claim to establish ownership, while West’s heirs had sold the property to a real estate company. After the company sought possession, Sguros surrendered the keys and sued for renovation costs. He faces charges including official misconduct, was released on $25,000 bond, and is on paid administrative leave.