AKRON, Ohio -- A former East Cleveland police supervisor was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in federal prison for ripping off suspected drug dealers and stealing money seized during baseless investigations.

Sgt. Torris Moore, 43, of South Euclid was the ringleader of a scheme to steal thousands of dollars in what Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Feran said was done for no other reason than "greed."

Moore gave a tearful speech Tuesday trying to explain her actions. She said her crimes happened when she was depressed, was abusing alcohol -- sometimes while on duty -- and was dealing with the diagnosis of a serious heart condition.

"In 2011, I became a contradiction of my entire career, my life. Becoming who I swore to protect society from," Moore said.

Under the plea agreement, U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi could have sentenced Moore up to 11 years in prison. While Lioi considered Moore's crimes serious, she also took Moore's poor health into consideration.

"Our system of justice only works properly when people in charge ... act with integrity," Lioi said. "And that did not happen in this case."

Moore was arrested in October following a more than two-year FBI investigation. She, along with officers Antonio Malone and Eric Jones, stole the money in part by applying for and receiving search warrants that contained false statements. She was charged with targeting five suspected drug dealers.

She pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy, extortion, two counts of theft and one count of lying to federal investigators.

Lioi also ordered Moore to pay $69,500 in restitution and forfeitures. Both have already been paid, her attorney Nathan Ray said.

Moore's wife and family sat in the gallery Tuesday. Some fought back tears as the judge handed down the sentence.

Feran told the judge that Moore exhibited all of the signs of a person who led a good life, and that the disgraced officer helped many people through her career in law enforcement. But he added that she led a "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" sort of existence.

"She became the criminal that she was arresting. There's no difference," Feran said.

Moore stood at the podium and addressed the court saying that she couldn't believe that her life went down that path.

"I'm in disbelief that I'm even here," she said.

Moore said that she hopes to help others with her college degree in social work once she is released.

Lioi said that she hoped that she would.

Moore is free from jail on bond. Lioi allowed her to remain free until the Federal Bureau of Prisons orders her to begin serving her sentence.

Malone and Jones cooperated with the government and pleaded guilty in November. Under their respective plea agreements, Malone faces a sentence of up to six years, and Jones faces up to five years. They will be sentenced Monday.

The officers' actions caused judges in Cuyahoga County to vacate the drug convictions of Kenneth Blackshaw, Hosea Lock and John Wallace. All three were convicted, and Blackshaw was in the midst of a five-year prison sentence when he was released in February.