Sguros was part of a team sent to check on a Lauderhill resident, Dennis West, in July 2022, after the department received a call from a worried neighbor, a press release from the Broward sheriff’s office (BSO) said. West was found deceased in the home of natural causes.

Within weeks, the officer embarked on what BSO said was “a complex scheme to take control of the individual’s home” by involving himself in West’s post-death affairs.

“Sguros represented himself to the Broward county medical examiner’s office as West’s friend, although there is no indication he knew West, and stated that West had no living family, which was untrue,” the press release said.

“The investigation also revealed that Sguros paid the taxes and utilities at the home in West’s name and used West’s identification to make it appear that West was still alive to get the city of Lauderhill to issue a permit to facilitate repairs.”