Kanani Limahai (Ashley Wong's mother) and Shelly Miguel (Johnathan Fraser's mother) share an emotional moment following Michael J. Miske's conviction for murder and racketeering. (Keya Rivera/Courthouse News Service)
Honolulu businessman convicted in major racketeering and murder-for-hire case
Federal prosecutors charged Michael Miske with being the head of a sprawling criminal enterprise that was involved in the disappearance of a man Miske blamed for his son's death.
by Keya Rivera, CourtHouseNews, July 18, 2024
HONOLULU (CN) — A federal jury delivered a verdict Thursday in one of Hawaii's larges organized crime trials in recent years, finding Michael J. Miske Jr. guilty on over a dozen count of a sweeping racketeering case.
The initial hush followed the clerk reading out, "We the jury unanimously find the defendant, Michael J. Miske Jr., guilty," which was soon replaced by a chorus of diverse reactions from the packed gallery.
Miske, 50, a prominent Honolulu entrepreneur, was convicted of 13 of the 16 remaining charges against him, including murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit assault. The six-month trial, which began in February, featured testimony from over 200 witnesses and thousands of pieces of evidence.
Federal prosecutors portrayed Miske as the ruthless leader of a criminal enterprise that used violence and intimidation to maintain power.
“It’s a place where greed, intimidation, retribution and violence rule the day, and at the epicenter of that criminal underworld was the defendant, Michael J. Miske," Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Inciong said during closing arguments.
The government argued the organization profited from drug trafficking and illegal fireworks sales, with Miske reportedly offering substantial sums for attacks on those who crossed him.
Much of the case centered on the 2016 disappearance of 21-year-old Johnathan Fraser. Prosecutors argued during trial that Miske masterminded Fraser's kidnapping and possible murder, believing Fraser was responsible for a car accident that led to the death of Miske's son, Caleb.
The investigation into Miske's activities intensified following Fraser's disappearance, leading to Miske's arrest in 2020 and a federal indictment.
Despite never recovering Fraser's body, prosecutors built a circumstantial case linking Miske to the presumed murder. The prosecution found that Miske initially befriended Fraser and his girlfriend, Ashley Wong, showering them with gifts and housing, before ordering Fraser's abduction and killing.
Key testimony came from former Miske associates who had accepted plea deals. These witnesses described Miske's involvement in planning Fraser's murder and subsequent admissions of guilt.
The defense team, led by attorney Michael Kennedy, painted a different picture of Miske, who they said was a successful businessman whose pest control company serviced local landmarks like the Waikiki Shell and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Miske's defense was to shift blame to Wayne Miller, one of his longtime associates who separately faces his own slew of criminal charges, portraying him as the true mastermind behind the crimes and the one to actually carry out most of the criminal acts.
Miske was also convicted of a bevy of other conspiracy and racketeering charges associated with several violent assaults on others, including an elderly accountant, along with charges related to a chemical attack on a rival nightclub.
While the jury convicted Miske on most charges, they acquitted him on three counts: bank fraud, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit murder for hire resulting in Fraser's death.
The trial also touched on Miske's connections with government officials. Evidence presented suggested that Miske leveraged his influence to avoid legal consequences for years, including an incident where he may have used a "high-ranking prosecutor" to evade a traffic citation.
As the clerk read the verdict, some spectators wept while others sighed with relief.
Miske had originally come into the courtroom smiling and sporting a new haircut, but was stoney-eyed and red-faced as the guilty charges were read.
Fraser's supporters, many wearing "Justice for Johnny" T-shirts, sobbed quietly when the guilty verdict for murder in aid of racketeering was announced — a charge carrying a mandatory life sentence.
Though the charges relating to Fraser's disappearance were eligible for capital punishment, prosecutors announced in August that they would not seek the death penalty for Miske.
“It won’t bring him back,” said Ashley Wong, Fraser's ex-girlfriend, following the reading of the verdict. “But I’m happy with the verdict.
The 16-member jury will reconvene on Monday for the second phase of trial involving forfeiture, where they will determine which of Miske's properties, vehicles and other assets were related to the criminal conspiracy and should be seized by the government.
Outside the courthouse, Fraser's mother, Shelly Miguel, expressed mixed emotions. While feeling that justice had been served for her son, she emphasized that the verdict brought no real victory.
"Nobody wins today," said Miguel between tears. “I just want my son back. I want to know where Johnny is. I want to bring my son home.”
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