AUGUSTA -- A former West Gardiner man pleaded guilty Friday to a drug charge that could leave him vulnerable to deportation proceedings.

Lexius Saint Martin, 25, entered his plea in Kennebec County Superior Court and was sentenced to seven years in jail, with all but seven months of that suspended, and two years' probation. He was fined $400.

Justice Nancy Mills said because Saint Martin is not a citizen of the United States, he could be deported.

Saint Martin told her he had discussed the consequences of his plea and the deportation possibility with Joshua Klein-Golden, the attorney representing him.

Saint Martin is a citizen of Haiti.

Assistant Attorney General William Savage said Saint Martin was involved in the sale of $100 worth of cocaine on March 1, 2007, in West Gardiner. The deal took place in a car in the parking lot of a convenience store, Savage said.

He said the deal was arranged through a person who carried marked bills and the entire transaction was recorded on an audio device.

Saint Martin was arrested March 16 and had some of the marked currency on him.

In exchange for the guilty plea, charges of aggravated trafficking and a separate charge of trafficking in cocaine were dismissed.

Saint Martin also admitted to a criminal forfeiture in which the state confiscated $4,830 worth of currency he had when he was arrested.

Savage said the money was obtained from the sale of drugs.

Saint Martin, who is currently living in Oakland, was ordered to report to jail Sept. 5.

Two other people also were sentenced in connection with the transaction.

Rashiem Sellars, 28, of New York City pleaded guilty Wednesday in Kennebec County Superior Court to a charge of conspiracy to commit trafficking in cocaine.

According to the indictment, the offense occurred March 14 in Augusta.

He was sentenced to four years in jail, with all but seven months suspended and two years' probation. He was fined $400.

Another man, Kenneth Willette, 40, of Farmingdale pleaded guilty to drug charges involving the same incident and was sentenced in December 2007 to 31/2 years in jail, all but 60 days of that suspended, and two years' probation. He also was fined $400.

* In a separate case handled Friday in Kennebec County Superior Court, Walter A. Argraves Jr., 53, formerly of Clinton and now of Madison, pleaded guilty to a charge of negotiating a worthless instrument.

He was sentenced to two years in jail, with all but 10 days suspended, and two years' probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,180. The offense occurred Aug. 17, 2006, in Benton.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com