Crimeupdated 1h ago2 min read
Brian Sguros Accused of Using Dennis West’s Identity to Take Control of His Home
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Brian Sguros accused of stealing dead man Dennis West's identity to seize his home. Found the man dead during a 2022 welfare check and allegedly renovated the house.
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Officer accused in scheme
Broward County Sheriff’s Office investigators accused Lauderhill police officer Brian Sguros of a “complex scheme” to take control of Dennis West’s home after Sguros found West dead during a welfare check in 2022. Sguros, who was arrested this week, faced five felonies including official misconduct and criminal use of deceased personal identification, and he appeared in court at a brief hearing on Wednesday before dashing away from reporters outside.
Sguros told authorities he took possession of the property weeks after discovering West’s body to “prevent squatters from taking control of it,” according to a court document he filed. Investigators said Sguros made it appear West was still alive by using West’s identification to pay taxes on the property and obtain permits to make repairs, and they said he used his access to law enforcement databases to find information about West.
Identity, permits, and databases
Broward County Sheriff’s Office investigators said Sguros represented himself to the Broward county medical examiner’s office as West’s friend and stated that West had no living family, which the press release said was untrue. The arrest affidavit alleged Sguros forged West’s signature on multiple documents, and it said that between August 2022 and February 2025 he spent more than $210,000 of his own money upgrading the property, including replacing doors and windows in 2024.
Investigators also alleged Sguros used law enforcement databases to improperly access West’s driver’s license record, date of birth, social security number and other personal information. Sguros told the medical examiner’s office he was West’s friend, and he claimed he took possession of the property “because it was hazardous and he wanted to prevent criminal activity and people from squatting,” according to the affidavit described in The Guardian.
Court, bond, and fallout
The Lauderhill Police Department placed Sguros on administrative leave, and The New York Times quoted Lauderhill police chief Constance Stanley saying, “Every officer in this department swears an oath to protect the people of Lauderhill, including those who can no longer speak for themselves.” Sguros was released on a $25,000 bond after appearing in court in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday on charges including official misconduct and criminal use of a deceased person’s identification.
Investigators said the alleged scam came to light in August 2025 when a real estate company bought the property legally from West’s heirs and an employee encountered Sguros, who surrendered the keys but filed civil litigation seeking reimbursement for renovations. Sguros later filed a civil case against the company seeking to be reimbursed for the money he spent on repairs, and the BBC reported that Sguros has not commented on the charges and it is unclear whether he has legal representation.