Michael Buntenbah, known to many by his “Defend Hawaii” line of clothing and accessories, appeared in Honolulu’s federal district court on Thursday morning and admitted he had participated in several violent assaults resulting in serious bodily injury while working as a bouncer at the M Nightclub in Honolulu’s Waterfront Plaza between at least December 2012 and January 2016.

The nightclub was owned by a corporation controlled by Michael J. Miske, Jr., who was indicted in July 2020, along with Buntenbah and nine other co-defendants, and charged with being members or associates of a racketeering conspiracy controlled and directed by Miske. Miske faces a number of charges with maximum sentences of life in prison, including drug trafficking, as well as several charges related to the alleged kidnapping and murder of 21-year old Jonathan Fraser in mid-2016. All of the remaining defendants also face an overarching charge of conspiracy to violate racketeering laws, with specific offenses alleged to include kidnapping, assault, armed robbery, drug trafficking, weapons offenses, assault with chemical weapons, and bank fraud.

Buntenbah, in a written agreement with prosecutors, said there was an agreement between himself and nightclub owner Michael Miske, along with others, including Miske’s half-brother, John B. Stancil, to commit the assaults, and that he took part in order to maintain or increase his position within what prosecutors are calling the Miske Enterprise, a group of individuals who acted together as an ongoing organization to enrich themselves and protect their criminal activities.

The assaults admitted by Buntenbah include the high profile assault on NFL lineman Trent Williams, who was in Honolulu to play in the 2013 Pro Bowl. In an incident that made news across the country, Williams was allegedly hit on the head with a champagne bottle wielded by Miske, while Buntenbah and others assaulted Williams’ brother, Fred, and other members of their party.

In exchange for Buntenbah’s guilty plea, and his agreement to testify against Miske and other co-defendants, prosecutors agreed to drop two additional drug conspiracy charges. Both of the drug charges carried a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison of convicted, with a maximum life sentence.

However, the asssault in aid of racketeering charge has a maximum sentence of 3 years, with a possible fine of up to $250,000 and up to one year of supervised release. Due to the seriousness of the injury suffered by one of the assault victims, the offense level to be considered as part of the sentencing guidelines was increased by 5, and only partially offset by a 2 level downward adjustment “for acceptance of responsibility,” and another one-level reduction for pleading guilty “in a timely manner,” allowing the government go avoid preparing for trial in his case.

Buntenbah was released on $500,000 bond in October 2020 into the custody of his father, and subject to number restrictions. He will remain free on bond pending sentencing, currently scheduled in early August, but subject to further delay “based on the government’s need for the defendant’s continued cooperation….”

Buntenbah is the fifth of Miske’s co-defendants to plead guilty and agree to cooperate with prosecutors. In addition, at least six others were facing separate federal charges and have also pleaded guilty and agreed to flip on their former associates.

Even after his guilty plea in federal court, Buntenbah also faces a pair of felony assault charges stemming from the beating of several young men at the M Nightclub on January 31, 2016. Buntenbah is charged with assaulting Patrick Cullen and his friend, Chase Aki. Charges were dismissed last year after prosecutors missed a legal deadline to assure a speedy trial, but the case was quickly refiled. Both charges are Class C felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

Buntenbah already admitted his guilt in the case, which was part of his federal guilty plea, so a guilty plea in the state case seems likely to follow shortly.

See:

“Saved by the bell,” iLind.net, November 8, 2021.

“Miske sought cocaine supply deal with Mexican source, prosecutors say,” iLind.net, September 23, 2020.

“Miske defendant seeking release from federal detention also faces felony assault charges in state court,” iLind.net, August 2, 2020.

“Man was facing felony charges when aided by Katherine Kealoha,” iLind.net, March 4, 2019.

Memorandum of Plea Agreement by Michael Buntenbah by Ian Lind on Scribd