Miske Died Of Fentanyl Overdose In Federal Detention, Medical Examiner Says
His death appeared to be “accidental,” according to a preliminary report from the Honolulu Medical Examiner.
Michael Miske Jr., who was convicted in July of operating one of the most notorious organized crime rings in 贬补飞补颈驶颈, died of a fentanyl overdose in the Federal Detention Center, according to city officials.
Miske, 50, was found dead in his cell Dec. 1.
He died of toxicity from fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, a similarly potent illicit opioid.
Sources originally told Civil Beat that Miske killed himself, but the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said his death appears to be accidental, though it is still under investigation.
A full autopsy report will be released in 30 days, according to the office.
Phillip Verso, supervising medicolegal investigator for the office, said investigators want to review all possible information, including from Miske’s medical records and the law enforcement investigation of his death, before officially determining the manner of death.
Miske was pursuing an appeal after his July conviction on 13 federal counts, the most serious of which carried mandatory-minimum life sentences. His lawyer told Civil Beat he had been feeling hopeful about his chances of a favorable outcome upon appeal.
He had been awaiting a sentencing hearing scheduled for late January.
His death before being formally sentenced means the legal case against him will essentially disappear. The fate of his $25 million in assets that were set to be seized by the government has also been thrown into question.
Miske’s attorney, Michael Kennedy, did not respond to a call seeking comment Tuesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson, declined to comment.
Miske was convicted after a six-month trial that began in January. It was one of the most complex criminal prosecutions in the country, with millions of documents and hours of audio and video evidence. Among other things, he was convicted of murder for the 2016 killing of Johnathan Fraser. Fraser was a close friend of Miske鈥檚 son, Caleb, who died after a car wreck both young men were involved in. Fraser disappeared in 2016 and his body has never been found.
Miske’s defense maintained he had nothing to do with Fraser’s death. His attorney described him as a successful entrepreneur, whose businesses included fumigation company Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control and the M nightclub in Honolulu.
