PORTLAND — An Auburn man awaiting trial for allegedly mailing $3 million worth of fentanyl to himself in 2023 at an Auburn restaurant admitted Friday to trafficking methamphetamine twice.

Jeremy Mercier Auburn Police Department via AP

Jeremy Mercier, 42, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Because Mercier has a prior conviction for a serious drug felony, each of these felony crimes is punishable by 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $8 million.

He also faces a period of supervised release after he has served his prison sentence.

In a negotiated agreement with prosecutors, Mercier may not appeal any sentence of 135 months or less.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Lance E. Walker told Mercier on Friday that he may impose a sentence on the charges that is lesser or greater than spelled out in federal sentencing guidelines.

Mercier, who is in federal custody, appeared Friday in a tan jail suit.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay Feinberg wrote in court documents that, had the case gone to trial, she would have presented evidence and witnesses aimed at proving that in February, agents at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration worked with a confidential source to undertake two controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Mercier.

Both purchases were recorded by the source and supervised by the drug agents.

On Feb. 4, the source met with Mercier at his Auburn home. During that meeting, Mercier sold the source about 83 grams of methamphetamine, Feinberg wrote.

About four days later, the source met with Mercier again at his home where Mercier sold roughly 80 grams of methamphetamine to the source.

Feinberg wrote that Mercier had been convicted in federal court in 2007 of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, crack and marijuana possession with intent to manufacture marijuana, and aiding and abetting the same.

Before his arrest on the methamphetamine charges, Mercier had been on bail awaiting trial stemming from his arrest April 28, 2023.

In that case, a crate that contained more than 30 pounds of fentanyl turned up at Mac’s Grill on Minot Avenue in Auburn with Mercier’s name on the shipping envelope, according to local police.

Restaurant workers mistakenly believed the crate contained a shipment of mugs they had recently ordered, police said.

Instead, they found a large plastic tote that contained the drugs.

Mercier appeared at the restaurant looking for the package, according to a county prosecutor.

The package had been reportedly mailed to Mercier from Arizona.

In that case, Mercier is facing a charge of illegal importation of scheduled drugs and two charges of aggravated trafficking of schedule drugs, each crime a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. He also was charged with violation of condition or release, a misdemeanor.

He is awaiting trial, but that case likely will proceed after his sentencing on the federal charges, a court clerk said.