The trial that was originally scheduled to begin in September 2020 has been rescheduled again, and is now set to get underway on January 8, 2024.
Honolulu business owner Mike Miske, who allegedly controlled and directed the racketeering conspiracy behind multiple crimes from murder for hire to bank fraud, will have been in federal custody at Honolulu’s federal detention center for 3-1/2 years by the time the trial is now scheduled to get underway.
My latest story, which was posted at Civil Beat Friday afternoon, explains this latest twist in the ongoing legal saga (“Miske Organized Crime Trial Pushed To 2024/A new attorney is now leading Mike Miske’s defense team and needs more time to get up to speed“).
Here’s the beginning of the story. You can use the link above to read the full story.
Following a brief hearing in Honolulu’s federal court on Friday morning, Chief Judge Derrick Watson granted a request by attorneys representing accused racketeering ringleader Michael J. Miske Jr. for a four-month delay in the scheduled trial.
The trial of Miske and six remaining defendants will now begin in January.
Miske and 10 others were arrested in July 2020 after being charged in a 22-count indictment with offenses running the gamut from racketeering conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and other drugs, armed robbery, weapon offenses, use of a chemical weapon, bank fraud, and obstruction of justice.
Six of the original defendants have already pleaded guilty, and are cooperating with prosecutors. Two additional defendants were added to the case in a July 2021 superseding indictment.
Miske is personally charged in 18 of the 22 counts contained in the latest third superseding indictment filed in December.
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“They” just won’t let you retire, will they?
I consider myself basically retired. I just do this writing and continued snooping for fun. I stopped accepting payment for my stories some time back, so I am free to write, or not write, whatever and whenever I decide. Meda spends time on Sudoku and devouring novels. I wander down various rabbit holes looking for info related to the Miske case. Whatever works.
How much longer do you see it being delayed ultimately? Is this the last delay or will there be more?
I asked retired Alexander Silvert, a retired federal public defender and author of the book about the case of Louis and Katherine Kealoha, The Mailbox Conspiracy, if he thought this 4-month delay was justified.
He said the 3-1/2 years between indictment and trial was unusual, but given the complexity of the case and the ramifications for the defendants in terms of serious prison time, along with the reality it is the defense asking for the continuance, in this case it is not too unusual.
Silvert also pointed out that the removal of Miske’s lead attorney, Tom Otake, from the case “gives credence to the defense needing more time.”
But he added: “I do think this will probably be the last continuance.”
Maybe the Judge will reduce his life without parole sentence by 4 years.