PORTLAND – A New York man who was arrested by Knox County Sheriff deputies in October 2025 for cocaine trafficking and possession of firearms at a St. George residence will be heading to a federal trial, according to a criminal complaint document filed by the FBI in U.S. District Court in Portland Feb. 4, 2026.

Michael J. Phillips, 45, is facing federal charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The FBI confirmed in its affidavit that Phillips had a prior felony drug conviction and in October 2025 he, “knowingly and intentionally conspired with others, both known and unknown, to distribute controlled substances, including 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers.”

Phillips was arrested October 2, 2025 at approximately 7:48 a.m.  Knox County deputies, along with Rockland Police officers, executed a search warrant at a residence on River Road in Saint George. During the search, deputies seized several contraband items, including firearms, illicit drugs, drug paraphernalia, and illicit drug sales proceeds, police said.

Phillips could face an imprisonment of not less than five years and more than 40 years, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000, or both, said the FBI in the affidavit.

Phillips appeared in the U.S. District Court February 9. He has been held at the Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset since his arrest by Knox County Sheriff Deputies in October 2025.

A date for the federal trial was not listed in the court document.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com