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A man so heavy he cannot walk or dress pleaded guilty Tuesday to participating in a long-running cocaine distribution conspiracy and faces up to 40 years in prison when sentenced in September.

Kenneth T. Hicks, 48, of Emporia, who is said to weigh more than 900 pounds, entered the plea and answered questions in a soft, clear voice from inside an ambulance that was backed into the loading dock of the U.S. courthouse at 701 E. Broad St. in downtown Richmond.

Lying on his back and facing the judge, Hicks could be heard by most in attendance through the vehicle’s open double rear doors, but he could be seen only by U.S. Magistrate Judge David J. Novak, who accepted the guilty plea, and a handful of other people.

“I want to put on the record we’re engaged in some extraordinary procedures due to Mr. Hicks’ health issues,” Novak said at the start of the 30-minute hearing.

Hicks pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than a pound of cocaine from 2013 into 2017.

He admitted Tuesday that the conspiracy may have handled nearly 8 pounds of cocaine. It is also alleged that on April 4, while he was on release and awaiting trial, he tested positive for cocaine in violation of the terms of his release.