Defense attorneys representing Michael Miske, the former Honolulu business owner now accused of controlling a racketeering enterprise, describe their client as the owner of several legitimate and successful businesses who paid taxes, provided employment, and gave back to the community.

However, in the first two months of trial, prosecutors have presented a slew of witnesses who told graphic stories of how his businesses used threats and violence to quash criticism and questions raised by competitors or customers, and used to demand better deals from other businesses.

Testimony earlier this month described how Miske used threats to stifle competition at a dealers-only car auction, where for several years he regularly bought cars for Hawaii Partners, one of his companies that was a licensed used car dealer.

A Bank of Hawaii employee who handled auto dealer sales at the auction described an incident in which Miske intimidated a bidder by standing with his back to the auctioneer but face to face with the bidder. Moving within inches of the bidder’s face, Miske’s dead-eyed stare intimidated the bidder and prompted him to drop out, allowing Miske to win the bid.

Another witness, Stanley Ma, was a car dealer and a regular at the Manheim Hawaii auctions. Ma said he was bidding on a Toyota Tacoma truck at an auction of inoperable vehicles, or vehicles located on neighbor islands, which prospective bidders had no opportunity to inspect. Seated in the front row of the auction, Ma placed an initial bid of $5,000, which someone behind him countered. The bidding eventually reached $18,500, and Ma dropped out, as he didn’t know the truck’s condition. Miske turned out to have been the winning bidder.

When bidding resumed, Ma said Miske started bidding on every vehicle he bid on. When he realized what was happening, Ma stopped bidding against Miske, who went on buy a number of cars and trucks throughout the day.

Later, Ma testified, Miske confronted him, yelling and cursing.

“We have a problem,” Miske told him, asking in a threatening manner, “Do you know who I am?”

Miske said he didn’t want all the cars he had purchased, and blamed Ma for his own overbuying.

After Miske threatened to kill him, Ma said he was scared, and tried to de-escalate the situation by offering to buy the cars Miske didn’t want, believing it would pacify Miske.

Thereafter, as word of Miske’s reputation and threats spread among auction regulars, they reached an unspoken agreement to avoid bidding against Miske.

Miske reportedly bought at least several hundred cars at auction, although it isn’t clear what was done with them.

Some were allegedly turned over to his associates to sell as if they had been their privately-owned cars without the protections offered by law to customers of licensed car dealers.

Wayne Miller, for a period considered Miske’s top lieutenant handling his drug network and entrusted with other activities, testified earlier that Miske had asked him to grab whatever guns were available, which Miske then purchased directly or through Jason Yokoyama, who managed Miske’s M Nightclub.

“When you see ’em, just grab ’em,” Miske said, according to Miller’s testimony. “Grab ’em all.”

Miller said some guns were stashed in cars parked around the island, where they would be accessible if or when needed.