The Honolulu medical examiner’s office has confirmed that a notorious crime boss from Hawaii, Michael Miske, died of an opioid overdose while in federal detention earlier this month. The 50-year-old was found to have succumbed to the toxic effects of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, a synthetic opioid often found in illicit drugs and known to be more potent than fentanyl. The medical examiner’s office stated that while the death appears to be accidental, the case remains under investigation. The full autopsy report is expected to be released in about a month.
Miske’s death has raised questions about how he managed to obtain these substances while incarcerated at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. The Bureau of Prisons, which oversees the operation of 122 federal prisons across the country, has yet to comment on the matter.
On December 1, Miske was found unresponsive in his cell. Despite the efforts of staff and emergency medical responders, they were unable to revive him.
Miske had a notorious criminal history. In July, he was convicted on 13 charges, including racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and kidnapping resulting in death. His crimes ranged from the kidnapping of a 72-year-old accountant who was in debt to him, to releasing a toxic chemical in a rival’s nightclubs, and even the murder of his late son’s best friend.
Following his conviction, the government was entitled to seize up to $28 million of Miske’s assets, which included boats, houses, and artwork. He was due to be sentenced on January 30.
The Bureau of Prisons has faced a series of challenges in recent years, including allegations of rampant sexual abuse, criminal misconduct by staff, chronic understaffing, escapes, and high-profile deaths. In August, an inmate and two others were charged with conspiring to mail drugs to a penitentiary in California. A mailroom supervisor at the facility died after opening a letter allegedly laced with fentanyl and other substances.