A Lauderhill police officer in South Florida faces multiple felony charges after investigators alleged he illegally took control of a deceased man’s home, assumed his identity, and lived in the residence for years without notifying surviving relatives. The scheme unraveled only after the officer filed a civil lawsuit demanding reimbursement for extensive renovations he performed on the property.
Brian Louis Sguros, 35, was arrested on October 20 following a joint investigation by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office Crimes Against Property Unit. Sguros, who has served with the Lauderhill Police Department since March 2021, is currently held at the Broward County Jail.
How the Investigation Began: The 2022 Welfare Check
The case dates back to July 11, 2022, when Sguros and another backup officer responded to a 911 call regarding a welfare check at a residence in Lauderhill, a suburban city just west of Fort Lauderdale. A concerned neighbor reported not seeing 71-year-old Dennis Ionis West for over a week. Upon entering the home, authorities discovered West dead near the front entrance.
An autopsy later confirmed that West died of natural causes related to cardiovascular disease. Investigators stated that body-camera footage from the initial welfare check showed no prior relationship between Sguros and West. However, court documents allege that Sguros subsequently approached the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office, falsely claimed to be a friend of the deceased, and offered to handle funeral arrangements if no family could be found.
Authorities verified that West had surviving relatives legally entitled to his estate, directly contradicting Sguros’ statements to county officials.
Years-Long Takeover and Fraudulent Renovations
According to the 21-page arrest affidavit, Sguros took possession of West’s home on August 1, 2022, without any legal authority-a fact he later acknowledged in sworn court documents. Investigators claim Sguros orchestrated a complex scheme to make it appear as though West was still alive, maintaining utility accounts and paying property taxes under the deceased man’s name.
Sguros allegedly poured at least $214,000 of his own money into refurbishing the dilapidated property, claiming the improvements were necessary to prevent squatters and criminal activity. The renovations reportedly increased the home’s market value to approximately $500,000.
To execute the property updates, Sguros used West’s personal information to secure building permits. In August 2024, paperwork submitted for an $8,000 window and door replacement project listed West as the living owner, complete with his driver’s license number and a forged signature. A local notary whose name appeared on the documents told detectives that the signature was not hers and that the stamp did not match her official seal.
Misuse of Law Enforcement Databases
Investigators further discovered that Sguros allegedly exploited his position as a police officer to access confidential records. Between July 2022 and January 2023, Sguros used his department-issued work computer to conduct seven separate database searches regarding West, pulling Department of Motor Vehicles and Social Security information.
The Lawsuit That Led to the Arrest
The alleged conspiracy came to light when Equinox Realty Holdings contacted Sguros on behalf of West’s rightful heirs, who were moving to claim the property. Sguros agreed to hand over the keys to the house but subsequently filed a civil lawsuit in February 2026 seeking an equitable lien against the estate to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on renovations.
Prompted by the civil filing, the realty company’s legal counsel reported Sguros’ sus**cious involvement to the Lauderhill Police Department, triggering the criminal investigation that ultimately led to his arrest.
Following his arrest, Sguros was placed on unpaid leave, having initially been suspended with pay in July. He faces five criminal counts, including:
- Falsifying official documents as a public servant
- Criminal use of a deceased person’s identification valued at $5,000 or more
- Criminal use of personal identification information
- Offense against a computer user
- Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
“We hold police officers in the highest regard because they take an oath to protect the public,” Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar told local media outlets following the arrest. “This case is so troubling because this officer has been charged with using his position to defraud the public.”
