William Austin, Former White Supremacist Gang Member, Sues A&E

A former white supremacist has filed a law suit against A&E because they allegedly used a photo of him without permission.

William Austin, a former white supremacist gang banger turned whistleblower and devout Christian, has filed a law suit against the A&E Television Networks. Austin claims the network endangered his life when they used images of him in an episode of History Channel's "Gangland."

"[Austin] has received death threats ... now that his image has been published on television. He constantly fears for his life and is in daily anguish as a result of the unauthorized publication of his likeness," reads the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in California Superior Court.

Austin claims his photo was used in an episode of the "Gangland" documentary television show that aired on April 21, 2010. According to an online description of that episode, it was about "Public Enemy No. 1," a white supremacist street gang based in southern California.

In 2004, the California Department of Justice described the gang as "one of the most powerful and fastest-growing gangs inside and outside prison."

In his lawsuit, which he filed on his own behalf, Austin said he is no longer affiliated with "Public Enemy No. 1."

"[Austin] is now a devout Christian and has no association with the ... gang. [Austin] previously was a high-ranking member and leader of the gang and gained notoriety as a whistleblower when he testified against the gang's leader, Donald 'Popeye' Mazza," according to the court documents.

Deadline reports Austin became a government witness against Mazza after the gang leader and another gang member, who was Austin's child’s godfather, tried to kill him in 1999.

Austin does not detail what images the network allegedly used in the program, he only describes them as "private, never seen before photographs." Austin further alleges the defendants used them "to vex, annoy, and/or harass" him and profit from his "image and likeness."

The civil suit claims Austin has suffered emotional distress and is seeking at least $50,000 in damages from A&E.

Neither Austin nor A&E immediately replied to a request for comment from The Huffington Post.

READ THE LAWSUIT:
William Austin Lawsuit

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Comments

[gtalkspolitics]

06:48 AM on 04/29/2012

Fear no evil .

[blodisnut]

05:41 PM on 04/28/2012

So wait... this guy hates blacks, jews, and whatnot, and is mad that A&E outed him?

I feel so sorry for this guy.

Wait, no I dont.

Screw him.

I hope he gets beaten to death by a couple of 6'5 brothers with a hammer.

[xenubarb]

02:50 PM on 04/28/2012

Don't do the crime if you can't do the face time in the media. Perhaps now that he's a "devout Christian" his Jesus will protect him.

[Nukualofa]

04:57 PM on 04/30/2012

Bingo!

[mariusvinchi]

10:03 AM on 04/27/2012

Oddly, I am undisturbed by this mans plight...Karma is a fickle mistress....

[tabiyeh]

04:01 PM on 04/27/2012

I was thinking the same thing.

[richodg5]

03:02 PM on 04/28/2012

ditto

[Siohban Hatchett]

12:44 PM on 04/28/2012

ABSOLUTELY! His past victims should turn around and sue him.

[ibreathe4u]

06:31 AM on 04/27/2012

Don't worry Willy, Jebus will protect you. You know, just saying you're sorry doesn't cut it. Welcome to true reality.

[Johnny3021]

10:18 PM on 04/26/2012

I want to point out that this guy didn't quit the gang because he wanted to he did because he was going to get killed so if they hadn't tried to kill him would he still be in the gang?This is why you have to becareful what you do in life because it can comeback and haunt you and some people are not as forgiving as others.Hopefully he is on the right road but this is not the first or the last time his past will be brought up.

[ariadne104]

07:33 PM on 04/26/2012

"gained notoriety as a whistleblower when he testified against the gang's leader, Donald 'Popeye' Mazza," according to the court documents."

I don't understand, he was already known as the whistleblower that testified against his former buddies and that would seem to have him on their hated list.
Why is he going after A & E again?

[richodg5]

02:51 PM on 04/28/2012

Money

[sobored44]

06:42 PM on 04/26/2012

His lawsuit is what is bringing his past to light. And if he gets any money he is going to be in more danger than he is now.

[Stavo]

06:35 PM on 04/26/2012

Kind've a rocky bed that once a white racist, always a white racist, chose to sleep in. lol Goes around, comes around. That applies to all flavors and colored frostings of people....no matter the walk. Your past, always comes home to roost.

[ok3apples]

12:17 AM on 04/27/2012

I believe in redemption. Hatred can be replaced with knowledge. He is not the first white supremacist to repent. If there is no capability for the human heart to grow and change with time and life experience then the whole concept of being born again is a lie. I'm not ready to believe that.

[tabiyeh]

04:04 PM on 04/27/2012

Studies show 'born agains' have a smaller hippocampus and higher likelihood of Alzheimers.

Interesting fact.

[muckatuck]

06:13 PM on 04/26/2012

you reap what you sow boy, deal with it, and quit your belly aching.trust me when i tell you no one gives a rip about your 'emotional distress.'

[xenubarb]

03:05 PM on 04/28/2012

That there's right out of the bible. Guess he should've read it before he chose to become a gangster.

[muckatuck]

04:21 PM on 04/28/2012

indeed.

[KiaShine]

05:58 PM on 04/26/2012

Devout christian my A**! He only says that because he was almost killed..Then he became a snitch, & since his racist "brothers" don't have his back anymore--he is by himself. No protection...But he hasnt changed a bit.

[ibreathe4u]

06:34 AM on 04/27/2012

They always find Jebus (or someone similar) when they're in prison. Maybe big "J" will protect him now. If he prays hard enough hahahahaha

[KiaShine]

01:34 PM on 04/30/2012

LOL!! F&F!! You pinned the tail on the donkey!! *High Five*

[vergoton]

05:43 PM on 04/26/2012

Poor guy...he changed his ways and now the TV network is smearing his name......I hope he wins lots of money........redemption works...............

[prfktstrngr527]

04:59 PM on 04/26/2012

Sounds like he simply traded PEN1 for the Aryan Nation.
http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/Aryan_Nations.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=3&item=an

[KENYANLIBERAL]

04:08 PM on 04/26/2012

What a fake......from killing Blacks to Snitching to the
Police to filing lawsuits against Big-Business to getting scared of death itself! I wonder what church he belongs in, if any.

[r0sesandbees]

03:55 PM on 04/26/2012

This guy was in "one of the toughest gangs" and NOW hes scared for his life?? What about all the minorities he must have made scared for their lives huh? Its KARMA honey, deal with it. I appreciate the fact hes changed his life, found God and blah blah blah but whats he going to do with the money? Get plastic surgery? Relocate? he made the decisions and now he has to deal with the consequences.

[Syllogizer]

08:12 PM on 04/26/2012

You say you "appreciate the fact hes changed his life", but the entire rest of yoru post sows that no, you do not.

[Derrick Wayne Robinson]

06:09 AM on 06/10/2012

r0se, excellent response! i think i'm in love.