John Stancil, Mike Miske’s younger half-brother, was sentenced Tuesday to 20-years in federal prison for his role in Miske’s racketeering organization.

Stancil, 37, had been charged with multiple offenses but pleaded guilty to a single count of racketeering conspiracy in a last-minute deal with prosecutors. The plea deal was made public on the same morning he and Miske had been scheduled to begin their trial. Stancil was the last of Miske’s 12 co-defendants to plead guilty.

Although prosecutors agreed to drop the additional charges in exchange for Stancil’s plea, he admitted to taking part in at least one murder-for-hire plot in 2016 that targeted a Waimanalo man Miske believed was cooperating with law enforcement.

Stancil also took credit for introducing Miske to Jake Smith, who subsequently was paid to carry out multiple assaults directed by Miske. During several of those assaults, Stancil admitted he had served as the getaway driver.

In 2017, Stancil and another man, Dayson Kaae, entered Aloha Tattoo in Kailua. Kaae proceeded to assault the owner while Stancil recorded the fight on his cell phone. During the struggle, Kaae was stabbed. He and Stancil fled to a car parked outside where Jake Smith and two others were waiting. Stancil and the others then ran from the scene, leaving Kaae behind. He was pronounced dead later that evening.

He also admitted releasing the chemical chloropicrin in a crowded Waikiki nightclub in 2015, and two years later assisting other Miske associates in similar chemical attacks on two other nightclubs that competed with a club owned by Miske. Stancil said all these chemical attacks were directed by Miske.

Although Stancil was heavily involved in Miske’s criminal activities, trial testimony indicated Miske manipulated him into doing “stupid shit,” using a combination of family pressure, monetary rewards, and public humiliation to overcome Stancil’s frequent reluctance.

Stancil’s 20-year sentence is the longest handed down so far to Miske’s co-defendants and associates. In October, Jake Smith received a 121-month sentence, while several others have received sentences of about three years.

See:

On the eve of trial, Stancil flips, and Miske requests a new jury, iLind.net, 1/22/2024

Stancil plea does not include cooperation or testimony, iLind.net, 1/22/2024

Video shows robbery of BVNK store by Miske crew, iLind.net, 4/12/2024

Testimony ties Miske to deadly incident at Kailua tattoo shop, iLind.net, 4/25/2024

Deadly incident in a Kailua tattoo shop: Part 2–The getaway, iLind.net, 5/13/2024