Lazerek Austin, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Wisconsin 2023

VERONA, WI – Lazerek Austin, 19, of Verona, Wisconsin, will spend the next 30 months in federal prison after being sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Austin pleaded guilty to the charge back in February, but the case reveals a disturbing pattern of brazen disregard for the law and a dangerous escalation of activity documented online.

The trouble began last year when Austin was convicted of felony car theft in Dane County Circuit Court. Released pending sentencing, he immediately skipped court, triggering a warrant for his arrest. It wasn’t long before law enforcement began tracking his online presence, a grim window into his continued criminal activity. Detectives discovered a flood of photos and videos posted to social media showing Austin flaunting multiple firearms – all after his conviction and while a fugitive.

On August 17, 2022, detectives cornered Austin at a Middleton apartment. A search uncovered a handgun in a closet, later confirmed to have Austin’s DNA on it. But the single gun was just the tip of the iceberg. Investigators unearthed a digital arsenal: images of Austin posing with handguns, an AR15, an AK variant, and even Glock pistols fitted with illegal full-auto switches. Austin admitted to authorities that he posed with the firearms, including five he claimed belonged to others, “to look tough” and for self-protection, claiming he feared retaliation from those he may have wronged.

The photos weren’t taken in secret. Many depicted Austin openly displaying the weapons in parking lots and inside vehicles in both Madison and Chicago. The brazenness of the displays clearly troubled Judge Peterson. At sentencing, the judge acknowledged Austin’s young age, but stated he had “no option” but to impose a substantial prison sentence, citing the danger Austin posed to the community. Peterson specifically noted Austin’s photos suggested participation in a group reinforcing harmful behaviors, predicting a trajectory where someone would inevitably be shot.

“The court had to stand up for the protection of the community,” Peterson stated, adding a three-year term of supervised release to Austin’s sentence. The investigation that led to Austin’s conviction was a collaborative effort between the Fitchburg, Madison, and Middleton Police Departments, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted the case.

Federal officials highlighted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Justice Department program focused on reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts between federal and state law enforcement. The program prioritizes cases involving felons illegally possessing firearms, aiming to disrupt the cycle of violence and gun crime that plagues communities nationwide. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegal firearms and the importance of holding those who possess them accountable.

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