The United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced on Mar. 9 that the government has filed a motion to amend its civil forfeiture complaint regarding the criminal proceeds of Michael J. Miske. The motion is based on evidence from an ongoing criminal investigation that alleges Miske and others conspired to obstruct a previous criminal forfeiture by smuggling fentanyl into prison, enabling Miske to die by overdose and prevent the government from seizing over $20 million in assets.
This development is significant because it addresses efforts to recover assets believed to be derived from racketeering activity, even after the death of a convicted individual. The case highlights challenges authorities face when individuals attempt to evade justice through extreme measures.
According to court documents, Miske was awaiting sentencing in prison at the time of his death around December 1, 2024, following his conviction by a federal jury for racketeering conspiracy, murder, and other felony charges. On July 24, 2024, a related criminal forfeiture proceeding found that 27 assets seized from Miske were subject to forfeiture as proceeds of racketeering. However, his death led to the abatement of both the criminal and forfeiture proceedings, which prevented the government from obtaining title to those assets. The government then initiated a civil forfeiture action for those same assets.
Court filings allege that an ongoing investigation uncovered evidence showing Miske conspired with others to smuggle fentanyl into FDC Honolulu so he could use it for suicide. It is alleged that he arranged for another inmate—recently released on supervised release—to receive a vehicle as payment for violating release conditions and bringing fentanyl into custody for him. In the days before his death, Miske reportedly used small amounts of fentanyl in an effort to make his death appear accidental.
“Our criminal prosecution of Michael Miske demonstrated that he was a thug who used robbery, felony assaults, drug trafficking, fraud, chemical weapons attacks on his competitors, murder, and criminal obstruction to terrorize and intimidate Hawaii for many years,” said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. “When he was found guilty by a brave Hawaii jury, Miske then resorted to a plan to frustrate the lawful forfeiture of his criminally derived property by scheming to kill himself while in federal custody awaiting sentencing. Today’s amended complaint demonstrates our solemn resolve to pursue criminally derived proceeds and deny criminals like Miske the power to dictate the fate of their ill-gotten gains.”
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that all assertions in its proposed second amended civil forfeiture complaint are accusations only; any potential defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court. Sentencing decisions would be made by a United States District Judge according to statutory factors and advisory guidelines if there were convictions.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the ongoing investigation into this matter.
