Testimony in the racketeering trial of Michael Miske, former owner of Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control, and other businesses, this week described the armed robbery of the BVNK Store in Kalihi in October 2015. Prosecutors attribute it to several of Miske’s associates, led by his half-brother, John Stancil.

The shoe and apparel store was targeted after one of Miske’s close associates provided a tip that the store’s safe contained illegal sports gambling proceeds.

The three men who took part in the robbery were wearing “Hawaii State Sheriff” shirts, as shown in this screen shot from a security video.

The incident was described in at least two previous legal memos filed in the case before it came up this week in Miske’s trial.

On October 27, 2015, BVNK outside store camera 8 shows a white Acura Integra drive into the parking lot with its hatch open and up, then back into a space not seen by the camera, and later drive away. BVNK inside cameras 2 and 4 shows three individuals enter through the front door, one with a firearm, one with a baton, and one with wire. The three robbers steal a safe and carry a bag from the store. BVNK inside cameras 1 and 5 show the back room where the three robbers grab the safe. Government witness Wayne Miller is the source of the tip regarding the safe and large amounts of cash from sports gambling at BVNK. Miller claims he never received his portion of the money for providing the lead.

And:

The government expects the evidence will show that by October 27, 2015, Stancil had taken over Michael Miske’s role of overseeing robberies. Wayne Miller brought intelligence on BVNK to Stancil, who then directed the robbery of BVNK. Lance Bermudez initially protested the robbery because he knew the store owner, but agreed to be the driver after Stancil indicated that the robbery would go forward with or without Bermudez. Bermudez provided stolen shirts with the word “SHERIFF” on the back, and drove the getaway vehicle. Stancil, Kelii Foster, and F.S. entered BVNK wearing the sheriff shirts and masks. Stancil carried zip ties, Foster carried what appeared to be a firearm, and F.S. carried a baton. The store clerk was forced into the back by all three. Foster carried out the store’s safe, and F.S. carried out a cash register. Stancil, Foster, and F.S. then escaped in the car driven by Bermudez.

The getaway car was later abandoned and burned.

Lance Bermudez admitted he was the driver during the heist, according to his written plea agreement filed in court. However, he specifically denied he had torched the getaway car, and insisted that be removed from the plea agreement.

Elsewhere, prosecutors alleged: “The baton also was Miske’s weapon of choice (seven batons were ultimately recovered from Miske’s residence, and Miske was known to always carry a baton with him), and batons were used by other members of the Enterprise during robberies, including the robbery of the BVNK.”

The BVNK robbery itself was very efficient. The three men are in and out of the store in less than a minute.

Security video of the incident was introduced as evidence in Miske’s trial this week.

The robbers are seen entering the store at about the 15-second mark, and they’re back out with the safe and cash register at about 1:11.

Also see: “New information suggests link between Miske group and a North Shore drug gang,” iLind.net, 1/2/2024