*Editor's note: The names of two people have been removed from this story because the cases against them were dismissed in 2018.

Original story: The State Police and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency announced today the arrest of  8 people in connection with a huge drug ring in Hancock County. The investigation started in May of 2011 when MDEA’s Down East Division began investigating a group thought to be selling a significant amount of Oxycodone in that area.

The investigation focused on Michael Clark, 28 of Silver Lake Road in Bucksport. Drug agents suspected that he was the ringleader of the group. During the investigation, MDEA agents made a number of undercover purchases of prescription narcotics from members of Clark’s organization.

The following people* were arrested on December 10th:

  1. Brandie Higgins 39, of Bucksport and Ellsworth, charged with Class B Trafficking in Schedule W drugs (Oxycodone)
  2. Joel Allen,  26, of Orland,  charged with Class B Trafficking in Schedule W drugs (Oxycodone)
  3. Wendy Cassidy,  31, of Bucksport, charged with Class B Trafficking in Schedule W drugs (Oxycodone)
  4. David Vaughn, 27 of Ellsworth, charged with Class B Trafficking in Schedule W drugs (Oxycodone)
  5. Christopher Newcomb, 38, of Bucksport, was charged with Class C felony possession of Schedule W drugs (Oxycodone)
  6. Michael Clark, 28, of Bucksport. He has been charged with Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (Oxycodone), a Class A Felony. This charge was increased to "aggravated" because of the large quantity of Oxycodone seized.

Police also searched Clark’s home in Bucksport, the home of Joel Allen of Patten Pond Place in Orland, and the residence of Brandie Higgins on the Bucksport Road in Ellsworth. As a result of those searches, agents seized in excess of 1,100 Oxycodone pills with a street value of over $40,000. Also seized were $35,000 in cash, a Humvee, two ATV’s, a motorcycle, jewelry, and other precious metals.

Public safety spokesman Steve McCausland said in a press release that the investigation is continuing and more arrests are likely. Anyone with any information is asked to call the MDEA office in Ellsworth at 664-2443.

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