Florida officer charged after taking possession of dead man’s home near Fort Lauderdale

A Florida police officer is facing felony charges for allegedly taking control of a deceased man’s home near Fort Lauderdale and impersonating him for years, according to reports from wwaytv3.com and abcnews.com.

The officer, identified as Brian Sguros, reportedly found the man dead during a welfare check in 2022. Court documents show he took possession of the property weeks later, claiming it was to prevent squatters from taking over.

Authorities say Sguros carried out a complex scheme involving using the deceased man’s identification to pay property taxes and obtain permits for repairs. He spent over $200,000 fixing up the home, which he described as abandoned and in poor condition.

Sguros was arrested and charged with five felonies, including official misconduct and criminal use of deceased personal identification. He has been suspended from his job and appeared briefly in court before leaving quickly.

The situation came to light after a real estate group purchased the house from the deceased man’s relatives in 2025. Sguros argued in court documents that he acted lawfully and responsibly to protect the community by restoring the property.