Posted by Chinenye on Thu 22nd Oct, 2026 - tori.ng
A police officer in Florida has been arrested over allegations involving a man who died years ago and a house that later underwent major renovations.
(Suspect. Photo by The Independent)
A 35 year old officer with the Lauderhill Police Department in Florida has been arrested for allegedly using a dead man's identity to take control of his house.
Brian Louis Sguros was arrested on October 20.
He faces several felony charges, including official misconduct, identity offences involving a dead person and unlawful use of a computer.
The case goes back to July 11, 2022.
Sguros went to a welfare check at the home of Dennis West, a 71 year old man, and found him dead from natural causes.
Investigators say Sguros then got involved in West's affairs.
He told the medical examiner's office he was a friend of West, but there is no proof the two men knew each other.
Authorities say Sguros used West's personal details to pay more than 2,500 dollars in property taxes and utility bills.
He also allegedly got renovation permits in West's name.
In August 2024, a permit application to replace the windows and doors listed West as the owner, included his driver's licence details and carried a signature that appeared to be his.
That application was filed two years after his death, and the phone number on it belonged to Sguros.
West's heirs and a real estate company raised concerns, which led to the investigation.
In February 2026, Sguros filed a lawsuit asking to be repaid.
He said he had spent at least 214,000 dollars on renovations, which he claims raised the home's value to about 500,000 dollars.
He told investigators the work was meant to keep squatters and criminals away.