Behind the bust of Bryan H. Austin
If you remember Bryan H. Austin, a guy we featured back in July, and he’s still generating “I know this guy” stories months later in the comments at that post. Well, the guy who busted him at the Milwaukee airport and an Army Staff Sergeant sent us the story of how he busted him.
Apparently, this diligent sergeant spotted Austin in ACUs in the passenger area and wearing LTC rank amongst other accouterments and asked him for ID.
He was wearing ACUs and the rank of LT. Colonel. He also had the Special Forces tab on both sleeves of his uniform, one over the 82nd (left side) and another over the 101st airborne patches. He looked to be maybe 20 years old and had brand new ACUs on and boots.
I approached him and in a respectful manner asked what unit he was with and he said the 82nd, I asked what SF unit he was with prior to going to the 82nd and he said none so I asked how did he get that SF tab and he stated “I went to school for it”.
He also was wearing an air assault badge, no airborne badge though, you can’t make it through the Q course without being airborne.
So I asked for his ID and his mom who was with him (another girl about 16 was with them also) she told me to go away and leave him alone, and he stated she was in the army also, I said good let’s see your ID also and I showed them mine…. They gathered their belongings (we were in the food court) and walked away, she asked someone in the food court to call security and I said “yes and call the police”.
So I followed them and when the Milwaukee Sheriff showed up I explained what was was going on and explained what his ID should look like as the cop never served, he comes back to me (told me to wait away from them and wouldn’t let me see the ID). 2 minutes later a I watched him as he shakes this scumbag’s hand and tells me to leave them alone!!!!
I asked the cop about the ID and he said that the “soldier” showed him an older plastic ID that was his old ID is and is waiting for a new one (the cop informed me it was an plastic one that did not look like mine). I asked the cop what was the rank and he told me to “let it go” they have sick child they are taking for flight for an operation to St. Louis.
I said I am sorry for the little girl…and explained to him (and showed my ID again) that I have 16 years’ service and this is bullshit… He (the cop) tells me I need to back off or I will find myself in trouble for cursing in public when kids are present.
I then respectfully asked him if he was seriously threatening me with action when the dirt bag over there is the law breaker. I told him I have lost friends wearing that uniform and this punk dishonors it.
He then again warned me to let it go or I will be in trouble.
Kid’s name tape said Austin, I got a picture of him from a distance but no other info.
Incredible how the cop handled this, I told him I needed to see the ID but he would not allow it. I planned to follow up with PD when I got back home. The USO at the airport was floored and said they would work with me to get the supervisor for this cop.
They were traveling to St. Louis MO, I called the St. Louis FBI office and they were confused about any Stolen Valor act and told me to call back later when they were open???
That’s the same reaction I got from the Baltimore FBI office when I tried to get General Baxter busted. And they told me I have too much time on my hands to do all of that research.
Anyway, our intrepid sergeant contacted CID when he got to his base, who put him in touch with the Green Bay FBI office who followed up on Austin and sent our sergeant this email;
Thank you for confronting him at the Milwaukee airport in January. Without your actions, we would not have known about Austin’s criminal activity. Unfortunately, because of the misguided Supreme Court ruling last week, we will probably not be able to charge him with any federal crime.
The good news is that during my investigation, Bryan consented to a search of his computer. Evidence of him secretly videotaping his girlfriend coming out of the shower, tanning bed and other compromising situations were found. This is a felony in the state of Wisconsin. He has been charged with eleven felony counts in Brown County.
So, persistence paid off. The CID agent says he explained to the Milwaukee Airport sheriff’s deputies about his responsibilities, too.
Category: Stolen Valor Act
Sweet!
I hope the good SSG is not holding his breath waiting for a apology from the Milwaukee Sheriff orifice-r (mis-spelling intentional).
Good on you SSG for your persistence. HOOA!!
Good!
As much as I would personally like to bust every single idiot who disgraces us by claiming unearned status, this is the kind of sick phony which simply must be a priority.
Would have begged the sheriff to try to put me under arrest. I can see the headline:
”Real Soldier arrested while trying to get police to bust phony”
Yeah. That would have gone over VERY well.
Had any officer, in uniform, wandered by, I would have brought them into the conversation too.
I hope they schooled that PD in fake ID’s.
Presenting fake ID to a Leo is often a crime as well.
Milwaukee Police are pretty good at being union thugs. And real thugs from the crime rate in Milwaukee. They are the Pride of America’s polizei.
I had to take a breath to not get too pissed off to make sense. I was a cop for 32 years and served. If I had been that cop, that punk would have left in his underwear.
Cops who’ve never served sometimes have no idea what to do in a case like this— they don’t get any training.
When I got compalints on homeless guys holding up signs claiming to be a “Vet”, I’d ask them. EVERY time I found that they were not a vet, so I made them re-write the fucking sign. (told them I’d arrest them for false advertisement)
What the good Soldier did in this case was be guilty of “Contempt of Cop” …some don’t want anybody to challange them when they make a mistake.
Best bet is to just get the name of the co and go on a letter writing campaign to his department and local papers about his lack of action. It pisses me off that in this case a policeman demanded respect for his authority, yet refused to grant the same respect to a career Military NCO who was the expert in the area.
I’m glad that the CID & the FBI did the right thing and followed up where the Milwaukee SO failed. I also hope that the supervisor of the Deputy in question got a nice note from the Feds and had a little counseling session with him.
If I were that Deputy’s Sgt., watch commander, whatever, I’d remind him that impersonating a commissioned officer in the US military is a federal offense. If the guy really didn’t want to deal with it himself, he could have at least handed the guy off to CBP or something.
Thinking about it a little more, at the very least the Deputy could have taken down Austin’s pertinent info, done a field interview report and forwarded it for someone else to follow up. If I were a non-vet LEO in that spot (as I was prior to my own service), I think I would have at least documented the fact that the accusation was made and sent it to someone more knowledgable.
Good job. Perseverance pays.
Forged ID card is a federal felony as is the wearing of a Officer’s uniform. Not stolen valor. Joe
Power Point Ranger said it nicer, since I’m retired, I use words like “fucking asshole” all the time.
We all know he is such a con artist that he has fooled smarter people than that police officer. All this being politically correct crap when it comes to stolen valor, blatant forgery of ID’s, documentation etc needs to be addressed. I heard through the grapevine that his wife discovered his hidden money from reading it here. He told her that he did not get any money from his mother. Hope she rakes him over the coals and cooperates with the DA now that she is filing for a divorce.
anyone going to the hearing on the 29th?
As usual, he’s full of lies. Trust nothing that comes from his mouth; always verify with a third party!
I want to thank you (the person that saw the fake uniform of Bryan. This set in motion a process that probably saved my life. You see I was the person he was with. How did I not know this about him…..do not know… severe stress from my daughters illness. He took complete advantage of me, emotionally, psychologicially and finanically. He is a very bad person and he does not care who he abuses/uses for his own benifit.
I am sorry that I allowed him to abuse the system. The armed services is very honorable and I served army reserve for 9 years.
I would have raked him over the coals but was told he had no money left and I would have to pay 3000 just to get the process started.
He put himself first and manipulated and stole from me….even when I needed money for my daughters treatment
He took complete advantage of me as well, Just me too, and I feel for you. We are trusting people who didn’t realize that we had a sociopath in our midst. He is worse than a bad person, and I base that in facts. What process are you referring to above? He deserves to be held accountable for his manipulations. If nothing else, please make sure the ADA is aware of what he did with regard to the state case and the FBI is aware of what he did in regard to his federal charges pending.
He took advantage of a friend. I will be there the 29th!
Update Bryan pleaded out to 7 felony counts on 1-22-2013, sentencing is April 2nd. He stands to face 3 years in prison and 3 years supervisory probation. Once again my hat is off to the Green Bay FBI for keeping me updated on this… Hopefully he (Austin) makes some new friends in prison… 🙂
That doesn’t sound right. Seven felonies and his deal is three years in the joint? That’s one sweet deal, if accurate.
We’ll see if the judge thinks it’s “too sweet,” and he has the final say. Presentence investigation is on the docket and the judge will hear from the victims. If you are one, reach out to Judge Kelley with Brown County Circuit Court. He needs to hear from you!