A prominent Hawaii businessman who led a sprawling criminal conspiracy, funneling drug money through shell businesses and ordering the torture and death of his late son’s best friend, died in federal custody of an opioid overdose on Tuesday, according to Honolulu’s medical examiner.
Michael Miske, 50, died of “toxicity of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl,” according to a medical examiner’s office statement obtained by the Associated Press. The death appears to be an accident, but the case is still being investigated, according to the news agency, and an autopsy report will most likely take at least another 30 days.
Miske was discovered unresponsive at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center on December 1. The Bureau of Prisons stated that despite efforts by staff and emergency medical responders, he was not saved.
The Hawaiian crime boss was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, according to a Justice Department press release dated July 24. Although his sentencing was originally scheduled for November, the Associated Press reports that it will take place on January 30.
It is unclear how the mastermind of the “Miske Enterprise” from the late 1990s to his July 2020 arrest in the kidnapping and murder of 21-year-old Jonathan Fraser obtained fentanyl or para-fluorofentanyl, a synthetic opioid found in illicit drugs that is more potent than fentanyl.
Bloomberg reported that Fraser was best friends with Miske’s late son, Caleb Miske. The pair, who both enjoyed cars and racing, were involved in a high-speed crash in November 2015, in which Caleb Miske died from his injuries.
According to the outlet, Miske insisted that Fraser was to blame for his only son’s death, despite a police report indicating that Caleb was driving.
Miske’s conviction allowed the government to seize up to $28 million in assets, including boats, houses, and artwork.
