Medical examiner says a Hawaii crime boss died of a drug overdose while in federal detention

HONOLULU– A Crime boss from Hawaii WHO died in federal detention was killed this month by an opioid overdose, the Honolulu medical examiner said Tuesday.

Michael Miske, 50, died of “fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl toxicity,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement. The death appears to have been accidental, but the case remains under investigation, it added, and an autopsy report is likely to take at least another 30 days.

It is not clear how Miske obtained fentanyl or para-fluorofentanyl at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. Para-fluorofentanyl is a synthetic opioid found in illegal drugs and is more potent than fentanyl.

The Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Miske was Found unresponsive at the lock-up on December 1. Attempts by staff and medical responders were unable to save him, the agency said.

He was convicted in July on 13 charges, including racketeering conspiracy, murder by racketeering and kidnapping resulting in death. He was accused of orchestrating crimes including the kidnapping of a 72-year-old indebted accountant, the release of a toxic chemical in a rival’s nightclubs and the murder of his late son’s best friend.

The conviction gave the government the right to take control of up to $28 million of Miske’s assets, including boats, houses and works of art.

He was scheduled to be sentenced on January 30.

The Bureau of Prisons operates 122 federal lockups across the country. In recent years, the country has suffered a series of incidents and crises widespread sexual abuse and others criminal misconduct by staff to chronic understaffing, escapes And high-profile deaths.

In August a prisoner and two other people were charged with a conspiracy to send drugs to a California prison, where a mailroom supervisor died after opening a letter that prosecutors said was laced with fentanyl and other substances.