LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA – A Florida police officer is accused of taking over the home of a 71-year-old man he found dead during a welfare check in 2022. Investigators say Lauderhill officer Brian Louis Sguros, 35, falsely claimed to be Dennis Ionis West’s friend, had his body cremated, and moved into the house. Authorities say he then used the man’s identity to renovate the property.
Welfare Check Finds Dennis Ionis West Dead Inside His Front Door
A neighbor had not seen West in more than a week when Lauderhill police went to check on him on July 11, 2022. Officers found him dead just inside his front door from natural causes. Lauderhill is a city in Broward County near Fort Lauderdale.
One of the responding officers was Sguros. Authorities say he told the medical examiner’s office he was West’s friend, though there is no indication the two ever knew each other. That claim gave him a role in handling West’s remains.
Officer Allegedly Lied About Family and Had Body Cremated
Sguros also told officials that West had no living family, a claim authorities say was false. Investigators say he then had West’s body cremated. The false claim kept relatives out of the picture.
On August 1, just weeks after the welfare check, Sguros took possession of the house. He admitted this himself in a sworn court document. He went on to live in the home for years.
Police Databases and Forged Signature Used for Renovations, Investigators Say
Investigators say Sguros used police databases to pull West’s personal information. Officers are only allowed to use such databases for official work. He paid the property taxes and utilities in West’s name. That kept the home’s records looking normal.
He allegedly forged West’s signature to obtain a city permit for repairs, and contractors believed West was still alive. The renovations went ahead without raising suspicion. A neighbor said Sguros gutted the inside and talked about renting it out as an Airbnb.
Lawsuit Against New Owners Finally Exposed the Scheme
The case unraveled after West’s relatives, the family Sguros claimed did not exist, sold the house. Sguros claims he spent $214,000 renovating the property. He argued he deserved to be repaid for the work.
When the new owners refused to reimburse him for the work, he sued them. That lawsuit drew the attention of investigators and ultimately brought police to his door. The specific charges and Sguros’s employment status were not detailed in the post. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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