ELLSWORTH, Maine — An Orland man who police say oversaw a major prescription drug distribution ring in the Bucksport area was one of 16 people indicted last week in Hancock County.
Michael W. Clark, 29, was indicted Dec. 4 on one Class A charge of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and on three Class B charges of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs. He was charged with the Class A felony because police seized more than 8,000 milligrams of oxycodone when they executed a search warrant at his home in December 2013.
Police allege Clark had 1,155 pills of the prescription medication, with each pill containing 30 milligrams of the drug, when they searched the property on Silver Lake Road, where Clark was living at the time, according to documents on file at Hancock County Unified Criminal Court in Ellsworth. The total volume of oxycodone seized by Maine Drug Enforcement Agency was 34,650 milligrams.
Officers also seized $31,526 in cash from the home, along with several items they believe were purchased with money generated from the alleged drug trafficking operation. In addition to the felony drug trafficking charges, Clark was indicted last week on five charges of criminal forfeiture that would transfer ownership of the seized property to the state.
If found guilty of the Class A aggravated trafficking charge, Clark could be sentenced to serve up to 30 years in prison and pay a $50,000 fine. Additionally, he faces up to 10 more years in prison and a $20,000 fine on each of the Class B unlawful trafficking charges.
Among the items police seized and are seeking to have Clark forfeit are $31,526 in cash, a 2003 Hummer H2, a diamond ring valued at $3,000, a 1997 Suzuki motorcycle and two all-terrain vehicles, according to court documents.
Also listed as possible criminal forfeiture items are a Husqvarna snow blower valued at $1,200, a $500 video surveillance system installed at the Silver Lake Road property and $9,000 in credit Clark established at Worldwide Canine, Inc. in Bangor.
Police also searched a property Clark owns in Winn and seized other items there they allege were purchased with proceeds from illegal drug sales. Items seized from this property include a 2007 camper, a 6,800-watt generator, a John Deere mini excavator, and a four-ton utility trailer, court documents indicate.
Clark was arrested last December but was released on $50,000 cash bail a few days later — bail that since has been reduced to $25,000 cash, according to court documents. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court on the drug trafficking charges at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15.
Three other people arrested as part of the investigation into the alleged prescription pill distribution ring pleaded guilty to related charges and received jail sentences this past summer.
