Jury selection has begun in the federal trial of Michael Miske Jr., a prominent businessman from Honolulu, who is accused of heading a sprawling criminal conspiracy. The prosecution alleges that Miske funneled drug money through shell businesses and orchestrated the torture and murder of his late son’s best friend as an act of revenge. The trial is expected to involve more than 900 witnesses and several co-defendants who have struck plea deals for testifying, as reported by the Honolulu Civil Beat.
Miske, now 48 years old, faces a wide range of charges, including murder, kidnapping, assault, racketeering, bank fraud, use of a chemical weapon, and cocaine distribution. Potential jurors have expressed concerns about their safety and the safety of their families, highlighting the gravity of the case.
The feud between Miske and his late son’s best friend, Jonathan Fraser, traces back to a high-speed car crash in 2015 that claimed the life of Miske’s son, Caleb Miske. While a police report indicated that Caleb had been driving, Miske blamed Fraser for his son’s death. However, Miske seemingly had a change of heart and allowed Fraser and his girlfriend to live with his late son’s widow, even providing Fraser with a car.
Fraser was reported missing by his girlfriend in July 2016, and Miske’s name immediately surfaced during the police investigation. This led to the unveiling of Miske’s alleged criminal activities. Law enforcement raided Miske’s home in July 2020 but found no evidence regarding Fraser’s whereabouts.
Miske and 10 co-defendants were eventually indicted. He owned various businesses, including contracting, auto, and fishing companies. The indictment reveals that Miske’s pest control offices served as a headquarters for criminal activity, money laundering, and fraudulent employment. The group operated covertly, using multiple cellphones, encoded communication apps, and in-person meetings to evade detection.
The indictment also accuses Miske and his cohorts of engaging in drug trafficking, targeting and robbing rival drug operations, and committing various forms of fraud. The scale of the drugs moved by the enterprise remains uncertain, but authorities believe Miske distributed at least 5 kilograms of cocaine in 2014 and 500 grams of methamphetamine in 2016.
The trial has already seen flipped underlings testifying against Miske, including Lance Bermudez, who allegedly participated in the torture and killing of Fraser. One informant claimed to have witnessed Fraser being bound, beaten, and kicked repeatedly in the head. Another informant mentioned seeing a large bone in a cooking pot, allegedly connected to Fraser’s murder.
Fraser’s body has never been found, adding to the complexity and gravity of the case. Miske’s defense attorney, Lynn E. Panagakos, has not provided any comments at this time. The trial continues to captivate public attention due to its shocking allegations and the extensive criminal network allegedly orchestrated by Miske.
The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for the justice system in Hawaii and could shed light on the depths of organized crime in the region.
