US police officer accused of taking over dead man’s home after finding body
A Florida police officer who found a man dead during a welfare check in 2022 is accused of taking possession of the man’s home and impersonating him for years while fixing up the place, authorities said. The officer said he took possession of the property weeks after discovering the homeowner’s body to “prevent squatters from taking control of it,” according to a court document he filed.…
In 2022, a police officer in Florida discovered the body of a man during a welfare check. According to a court document filed by the officer, Brian Sguros, he took possession of the man's home shortly after, claiming it was to prevent squatters from taking control. The waterfront property in Lauderhill, valued at $400,000, was allegedly used by Sguros to impersonate the deceased, using his identification to pay taxes and obtain permits for repairs.
Sguros, who has since been suspended from his job, appeared in court this week, charged with five felonies including official misconduct and the use of deceased personal identification. The deception was uncovered when a real estate group bought the property from the man's relatives in 2025. Sguros stated he spent over $200,000 of his own money on repairs, claiming the house was filled with trash and its roof was partially collapsed.
However, investigators allege that Sguros forged West's signature and used law enforcement databases to gather information about the deceased.
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