Mike Miske is dead and gone, the businesses that served as fronts have closed, all but one of his associates who pleaded guilty have been sentenced, and his racketeering organization has been dismantled.
But the saga is still playing out on several fronts. There are some interesting little stories buried here which I’m planning on following-up on soon.
• The government has gone to court seeking to seize Miske’s estimated $25 million in assets, but an attorney representing his personal trust and his granddaughter have moved to intervene in opposition to forfeiture. There is likely to be more drama before the court decides who will walk away with his cash and property.
• Two civil suits have been filed in state court seeking damages from Miske’s estate. One lawsuit is on behalf of an accountant who was kidnapped and beaten by two of Miske’s associates on his command, the other on behalf of the biological father of Jonathan Fraser, who disappeared on July 30, 2016, apparently the victim of a murder-for-hire plot that Miske directed. Neither appears to be on a fast track right now, and there may be no money to pay damages if the government is successful in seizing Miske’s known assets.
• Former MMA fighter Michael Buntenbah was convicted of assault in aid of racketeering for his role as part of a shadow group of unofficial bouncers or security staff at Miske’s M Nithtclub who wore the same black uniforms as the official club staff, but worked off the books providing strong-arm services by assaulting patrons when called upon. Buntenbah also owns the company that produces the line of “Defend Hawaii” clothing and accessories. His oldest daughter is registered as agent for the company while Buntenbah completes his sentence.
Buntenbah was sentenced to three years to be served at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. He was ordered to pay a fine of $50,000, and also forfeited a $250,000 mortgage put up to secure his release on bond. His bond was revoked after he led an assault on two men in a Waikiki bar in January 2024, and Judge Derrick Watson approved the government’s motion to forfeit the full $250,000. Buntenbah’s attorney has appealed the forfeiture, and that appeal is pending in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The government recently filed its answer to the appeal, which puts forward a strong case to sustain the forfeiture.
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Thank you for following up on all these aspects of the case. It is fascinating and very sad at the same time. I feel sorry for the victims.
I wonder how many other “Miskes” are flourishing undetected.
I imagine there are quite a few guys out there who aspire to creating an organization with the influence and clout of the Miske enterprise. Luckily, it’s a long, hard road.
Your comment is somewhat derogatory, and there are no more miske other than his daughter-in-law who carries our name who have anything to do with his Hawaiian Chinese side of the Waimanalo mobsters. None of my brothers and sisters have anything to do with him or have anything to do have anything to do with him For us because he’s a gangster and he don’t trust any of us and we’re normal people and he lives off of greed, power and fear, but he can’t do that to us. We’re normal people. He can only do that to the people he runs with and the friends he creates and the family on his Hawaiian Chinese side Who groomed to him so we’re all hard-working, normal community people.
Please see my edited comment in response to Wailau. Her reference to “Miske’s” was not to family members but to other aspiring thugs out there who want to reach his status.
“Defend Hawaii” was always problematic on multiple levels, but so many just looked the other way.
Ian your Miske series is Pulitzer worthy!