CORRECTION: It was earlier reported that the FBI arrested all 11 defendants. However, the U.S. Attorney’s office has since distributed a press release stating that eight defendants were arrested today. One defendant remains at-large and two others, Dae Han Moon and Lance Bermudez are currently in state custody. The change has been reflected in the article.
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Numerous search warrants and arrests were executed throughout the island of Oahu on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The FBI arrested eight individuals, including businessman Michael J. Miske, Jr. on warrants for multiple charges that includes fraud, obstruction of justice and murder. Two defendants, Dae Han Moon and Lance Bermudez were already in state custody. One defendant, Norman L. Akau, III remains at-large.
The government alleges that Miske owned businesses that were used to ensure power and financial profits for himself and his associates, using illegal means. Fraud, extortion, robbery, drug trafficking were the alleged activities and intimidation, violence were the channels used to prevent prosecution for the acts.
The indictment alleges that Miske offered to pay several of his co-defendants to kidnap and murder Johnathan Fraser, who went missing in July of 2016. It further alleges that a co-conspirator, who was not charged, took Fraser’s girlfriend to a spa so they would not be together during the kidnapping. Miske had, according to the indictment, purchased a Boston Whaler “that could be used to dump Fraser’s body into the ocean after Fraser was kidnapped and killed.”
Chart courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hawaii District
Among several other charges, Miske and his alleged associates (see list below) are also accused of attempted murder of a second victim, who was believed by the conspirators to be cooperating with law enforcement.
- John B. Stancil
- Kaulana Freitas
- Lance L. Bermudez
- Dae Han Moon
- Preston M. Kimoto
- Michael J. Buntenbah
- Harry K. Kauhi
- Norman L. Akau, III
- Hunter J. Wilson
- Jarrin K. Young
The indictment also charges several of the defendants with releasing a chemical weapon, chloropicrin, into two different Honolulu nightclubs that the defendants “did not intend to use for a peaceful or other lawful purpose.” Chloropicrin, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been used as a riot control agent.
Charges of drug trafficking were also alleged with the U.S. Attorney’s office stating that multiple defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana. A number of defendants are also charged with using a firearm to rob victims of their drugs.
Dae Han Moon is currently serving a life sentence for the fatal Christmas Day shooting of Stevie Feliciano at Ala Moana Center in 2016. According to the Honolulu Prosecutor’s website, witnesses said Moon went to the parking structure to rob men taking part in a drug deal. There was a fight and Moon shot Feliciano in the back of the head. Moon is serving his sentence at the Saguaro, AZ prison facility.
