Lance Bermudez was the last of about 18 associates of the late racketeering boss, Michael J. Miske, Jr., to be sentenced. On July 14, Judge Derrick Watson sentenced him to 30 years (360 months) for drug trafficking, with lesser sentences for racketeering and assault to run concurrently to the drug term. It was the longest prison sentence among that 18 or so of Miske’s co-defendants and other associates who pleaded guilty.

He is currently serving his sentence at a federal facility in North Carolina.

Within days of his sentencing, Bermudez filed a notice that he would be appealing to the 9th Circuit Court. At the same time, his attorney, Myles Breiner, filed a motion asking to withdraw from the case. In a declaration filed in court, Breiner said Bermudez wanted a court-appointed attorney to take over. Breiner also said there could be a conflict of interest if Bermudez were to appeal based on a claim of “ineffective counsel.”

A California-based attorney, DeAnna Dotson, was appointed to replace Breiner on August 14.

On the same day, Dotson mailed Bermudez a letter informing him of her appointment to handle his appeal. She also telephoned and was able to speak with him.

In a declaration filed in court this week, Dotson said Bermudez “refused to receive the letter I had mailed to him and it was returned to me unopened marked ‘Inmate refused to Legal Mail.’”

“My client signed a Plea Agreement which waived his right to a direct appeal,” Dotson continued. However, if the government breached that agreement I would be able to file a direct appeal on his behalf. I received his documents and reviewed all of them to see if there was a breach. I could not find any such breach by the government.”

“My client does not want to have any contact with me, either by mail or telephone,” Dotson wrote.

As a result, she has also asked to withdraw from the case. Before withdrawing, however, Dotson reported spending time trying to arrange for Bermudez to be transferred to a prison in Beaumont, Texas, where he wants to be held because he has family in the area.

It is unclear at this point whether another Bermudez will be offered another court-appointed attorney or whether his failure to cooperate will end his appeal.

Meanwhile, appeals filed on behalf of John Stancil and Norman Akau are on hold due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Deadlines for filing opening briefs in their appeals, and other cases being handled by court-appointed attorneys, have been vacated by order of Mary Murguia, chief judge of the 9th Circuit. Those deadlines will not be reset until a funding bill is passed and funds are available to pay the attorneys.

Both men have filed notices of appeal. Stancil’s opening brief was due last week, while Akau’s would have been due next week. Both are now in legal limbo pending the end of the shutdown.

Also see:

The “Hammah” falls, iLind.net, September 8, 2022.

Seven years since the fatal shooting at Ala Moana Center, iLind.net,

What’s Next for “Hammah”? Lance Bermudez, key Miske associate, to be sentenced, iLind.net, October 12, 2025.

The “Hammah” and his attorney get hammered as the Miske Enterprise case winds down, iLind.net, October 16, 2025