BANGOR – A Milford man on Monday pleaded guilty to federal drug charges after waiving indictment.

Jason Bryant, 26, was arrested Sept. 18, 2003, in a parking lot in Old Town after he purchased nearly an ounce of cocaine from a confidential informant.

A week later, the confidential informant died of a drug overdose, according to court documents.

Bryant’s sentencing date in U.S. District Court in Bangor has not been set.

He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of up to $1 million. Bryant has been detained at the Penobscot County Jail while awaiting sentencing.

Bryant’s case is related to the case pending against William Leland, 48, of Alton, according to court documents.

Court documents do not explain how the cases are related, but a confidential informant in Leland’s case also died of a drug overdose. Bryant was charged the day after Leland entered his guilty plea in January 2004.

Leland pleaded guilty to seven charges including conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine, oxycodone and cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Earlier this year, he filed a motion to withdraw his plea.

A hearing on that motion is scheduled to be held Thursday in federal court in Bangor.