A Hawaii crime boss who died in federal custody this month died of an opioid overdose, the Honolulu coroner announced Tuesday.
Michael Miske, 50, died from “fentanyl and parafluorofentanyl toxicity,” the coroner's office said in a statement.
The death appears to be an accident, but added that the incident is still under investigation and an autopsy report could take at least another 30 days.
It is unclear how Miske obtained the fentanyl or parafluorofentanyl while in Honolulu Federal Detention Center.
Parafluorofentanyl is a synthetic opioid found in illegal drugs and is more potent than fentanyl.
The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Misuke was found unresponsive in a lockup on December 1st.
According to the agency, despite the efforts of staff and emergency medical personnel, they were unable to save him.
He was found guilty in July of 13 charges, including racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and kidnapping resulting in death.
He was charged with orchestrating crimes including the kidnapping of a 72-year-old accountant who was in debt, the release of toxic chemicals into a rival company's nightclub, and the murder of his late son's best friend.
The conviction allows the government to take control of up to $28 million in Miske's assets, including boats, homes and art.
He was scheduled to be sentenced on January 30th.
The Bureau of Prisons operates 122 federal prisons across the country.
It has been hit by a series of incidents and crises in recent years, from widespread sexual abuse and other misconduct by staff to chronic understaffing, absconding and high-profile deaths.
In August, an inmate and two others were charged with conspiracy to mail drugs to California prisons after prosecutors opened a letter they said was laced with fentanyl and other substances. The room supervisor died.
