In my latest story published in Civil Beat this week, Jacob “Jake” Smith is front and center. Here’s a bit more background.
Smith pleaded guilty in November 2020 to being part of Miske’s conspiracy to violate federal racketeering laws, and for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. In Smith’s written plea agreement, he admits to being an “enforcer” for Mike Miske and his racketeering organization, and to being paid to assault people when directed by Miske. He also confessed to several robberies of other drug dealers.
Here’s a photo and physical description from Smith’s Criminal History report by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.
Smith grew up in and around his father’s taekwondo and kickboxing center in Kaneohe. In July 2000, the same month he turned 7 years old, Smith, who already held a green belt, traveled to San Antonio, Texas, with 28 of his father’s other students to participate in the Junior National Taekwondo Championships. He placed 4th in sparring in the age 6-7 division, according to a brief article in the Honolulu Advertiser.
State records show he has a minimal criminal record. He was convicted of disorderly conduct in 2013, a simple violation, then in 2015 was found guilty of 1st degree burglary, a Class B felony, and sentenced to 6 months in confinement and five years probation. He was arrested on federal drug charges in 2018 while still on probation, and pleaded guilty to being part of the Miske Enterprise two years later.
At 6’6″, he’s an imposing figure.
There are a couple of videos available online, one of Smith sparring with a partner, and another of him in a fight outside a local club, location unknown. You get a taste of what he allegedly brought to the Miske organization.
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Smith Taekwando a long standing company is still active in Kaneohe. [comment edited]
Horrifying culture of violence – looks like he was raised that way…. that’s all he’s ever known – shame shame
Lots of big fish in this little pond thought they could rule this place with impunity. Then the whale (feds) came in.
Hope these two macho snitches at least are now telling the feds the truth about Frazier’s demise, and anything they know about the murder at OCCC.
Even if they, ahem, spill their guts, they need to do as much time as possible. And if anything “happens to them” inside, well, sucks to be them.
IT’S been my experience that martial arts experts are usually kind and gentle because they posses greater self-confidence than the average person and understand that their years of training was meant for self-defense, not violence towards others. Jacob Smith resembles a young man not only looking for fights, but someone who purposely used his martial arts skills as weapons of violence. Something tells me he knows better and was taught the right lessons of humility but chose to ignore them.
I hope no one will blame Jake’s father for the taekwondo training. My son trained beside Jake at Smith’s for several years and what my son learned is that you only use violence when you must to defend yourself. Of course also in competition, but that is part of the training. He also had to write a lot of essays about how to behave in life in general, so the education went deeper than the self defense. Grandmaster Smith is a strict disciplinarian but with only the best interest of his students at heart, and I am sure his son’s interests as well. A lot of kids rebel no matter what the parents do.
Jake’s Father is the reason to blame. Have you seen how Bob talks to his students? Esp the black belts? Bob thinks that you owe him your life and the only excuse to take a break from Tae Kwon Do is if you’re going to serve in the Military. Which is quite extreme. Just take a look at his Facebook posts. It’s always about how the students and higher belts owe it to him to be there, serve him, and teach the lower belts for free. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be Bob’s longtime student, yet alone, his son.
Bingo. I was one of them. He constantly talked down to us kids thinking it would make us better. We even had to sign training contracts. During “pep-talks”, we’d hear other students get berated for not showing up, ending lessons, labeled as quitters, etc.