Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Lance L. Bermudez, 34, of Honolulu, a key member of the notorious “Miske Enterprise,” was sentenced yesterday, July 14, 2025, to 360 months (30 years) of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release in federal court. U.S. District Chief Judge Derrick K. Watson handed down the sentence for Bermudez’s role in racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and Hobbs Act Robbery. This sentencing marks the conclusion of the federal prosecution against the sprawling criminal organization led by Michael J. Miske Jr.
Bermudez, known by the nickname “The Hammah” for his violent acts, was the last of 14 co-defendants to be sentenced in connection with the enterprise. His sentencing brings to an end a decade-long federal investigation that has resulted in the conviction of 20 Miske confederates.
As part of his September 2022 plea agreement, Bermudez admitted to extensive criminal conduct as a violent enforcer within the enterprise. His admissions included:
- Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy: Bermudez admitted to participating in a murder-for-hire plot with Michael J. Miske and other Enterprise members. Miske put out a contract on an individual he believed was cooperating with law enforcement. Bermudez agreed to commit the murder for $60,000 (though court documents later referenced a $16,000 agreement for a separate incident) and laid in wait outside the victim’s home on multiple occasions. The murder did not occur because Miske eventually rescinded the contract.
- Attempted Murders: He admitted to taking part in multiple attempted murders where he shot victims from his vehicle, with prosecutors detailing three such drive-by shootings.
- Arson & Kidnapping/Murder Connection: Bermudez admitted to burning a van at Miske’s direction, a vehicle he later discovered was utilized in the abduction and murder of 21-year-old Johnathan Fraser in July 2016.
- Armed Robberies: He also admitted to committing eight armed robberies of Honolulu-area drug dealers, where victims were reportedly tied up, pistol-whipped, stomped, punched, or had firearms pointed at them. He then sold the stolen drugs within the community. Prosecutors noted Bermudez committed 18 racketeering crimes, mostly violent, over about a one-year period.
Bermudez was charged alongside twelve other defendants. All pled guilty except for Michael J. Miske Jr., who proceeded to trial and was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, 2024. However, Michael J. Miske Jr. died in federal custody in December 2024 from a suspected fentanyl overdose while awaiting sentencing, and his conviction was subsequently vacated in February 2025.
Despite expectations of his testimony being critical in Miske’s trial, Bermudez was not called to testify after he reportedly refused to honor his cooperation agreement. His defense attorney, Myles Breiner, argued for a shorter sentence, citing Bermudez’s cooperation and threats he faced for potentially testifying against Miske. Bermudez was initially housed on the mainland for protection after his plea but was returned to Honolulu Federal Detention Center following Miske’s death and the conclusion of other sentencings.
During Bermudez’s sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Derrick K. Watson addressed him directly, stating, “You terrorized this city and this county to a greater extent than anyone I can remember.” Judge Watson cited the “brazenness” and “unprecedented” nature of Bermudez’s violence, noting he had “never seen the same level of violence even collectively among multiple coconspirators that here was attributed solely to Bermudez.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson highlighted the significance of the sentencing, stating, “Bermudez’s sentence is the final one to be handed down against the members of the Miske Enterprise and is the capstone of our investigation into the violent and corrupt activities of Michael Miske and his henchmen.” Bermudez himself offered a brief statement of remorse, saying he was “sorry for my actions” and would “dedicate my life to prison, to drug treatment and anger management.”
The prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, leveraging a multi-agency approach. The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from various other federal and local agencies, including the Honolulu Police Department.