A prominent Hawaii businessman, who was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and other felony charges, has died in federal custody from an opioid overdose. Michael Miske, 50, was found unresponsive at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center on Dec. 1 and efforts to save him were unsuccessful.
The medical examiner's office revealed that Miske died from the toxicity of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl. While the death appears to be accidental, the case is still under investigation, with an autopsy report expected to be released in the next 30 days.
Miske, known as the mastermind of the 'Miske Enterprise,' was involved in a criminal conspiracy that included funneling drug money through shell businesses and orchestrating the torture and death of his late son's best friend, Jonathan Fraser. Fraser, who was close friends with Miske's late son, Caleb Miske, was allegedly blamed by Miske for Caleb's death in a high-speed crash in 2015.
Following his conviction, the government was entitled to seize up to $28 million in assets belonging to Miske, including boats, houses, and artwork. The exact circumstances of how Miske obtained fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl while in custody remain unclear.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has not yet provided a comment on the incident. Miske's sentencing, which was initially scheduled for November, was set to take place on Jan. 30. His criminal activities and involvement in the murder of Jonathan Fraser have left a dark legacy in Hawaii's criminal underworld.
