An 80-year-old man on Wednesday admitted possessing drugs and trading them for sex. The man admitted that he sold crack cocaine from his house and gave some of the drugs to prostitutes in exchange for sex.

In front of a jury, Felix Cocco, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police say Cocco had been dealing drugs for nearly a year when he was arrested in November. During a raid, officers seized crack cocaine, a digital scale and packaging materials from his house. Authorities say they caught Cocco dealing again in February.

Cocco tells the Allegheny County judge, "I was trying to stay alive, your honor ... pay my bills."

Cocco's lawyer, Martha Bailor, tells the court that Cocco wanted to remain sexually active after his wife died three years ago and turned to prostitutes.

Bailor explains, "He decided it's cheaper to pay for sex with crack than cash."

Prosecutors say they would not seek mandatory sentences if the defense agreed to a six-to-18-month jail term.

The judge ordered an evaluation of Cocco's health after Bailor expressed concern about his vulnerability in jail. Cocco remains under house arrest while he awaits sentencing scheduled for Oct. 2.