NEWARK -- The first ex-Jersey City cop to face sentencing in a wide-ranging federal probe of the police department was spared prison today, with a judge handing out a punishment of three years' probation to the former police officer.

Christopher Ortega, 30, was facing as many as five years in prison for the conspiracy to commit fraud charge, but U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez argued that a less severe sentence was appropriate because Ortega accepted responsibility for his crimes, did not blame anyone else for them and is unlikely to re-offend.

Ortega admitted last year that he submitted phony pay vouchers to the city for 10 months starting in 2014, collecting more than $18,000 for off-duty jobs he never performed.

"I've humiliated myself," Ortega said during a brief address to the judge today in a third-floor courtroom in Newark. "I deeply regret the decision I made ... deep down in my heart, I knew it was wrong."

Vazquez also sentenced Ortega to six months of home confinement.

Ortega was joined in court today by a group of about a dozen family members and friends, including his girlfriend, who argued to the judge for leniency.

The federal investigation into Jersey City's police department is centered around the city's off-duty jobs program, which allows cops to work off-duty providing security for private firms or for city events. The gigs can be lucrative, with some officers earning six figures for off-duty jobs alone.

The probe has ensnared 10 people so far, including Phil Zacche, a former police chief, who earlier this month admitted taking money for public-housing security details he never worked.

"It's a sad day for New Jersey, particularly for the citizens of Jersey City," Vazquez said before handing down Ortega's sentence. "I know it's also a sad day for Mr. Ortega."

Ortega pleaded guilty in July along with two others, James Cardinali and Victor Sanchez. All three worked in the city's south police district. Cardinali was the district's "pick coordinator," meaning he selected which officers would work off-duty jobs. Cardinali admitted he would approve phony pay vouchers for officers like Ortega in exchange for a portion of the money they received.

Federal prosecutors recommended of punishment of six to 12 months, saying that would send a message that the type of behavior he admitted to would not be tolerated. One of Ortega's attorneys, Ernesto Cerimele, argued to Vazquez that Ortega deserved a lesser sentence because he stole less money and had a lesser rank than some of the other former cops who have admitted their guilt.

"Those other individuals were at the top of the Jersey City Police Department: former chief of police, supervisors, pick coordinators, assistant pick coordinators," Cerimele said. "Those are the individuals who orchestrated this crime, who directed this crime, who solicited bribes and accepted bribes, who directed the youngest officers to engage in this type of conduct."

Ortega first joined the force in 2008. His final salary was about $108,000. His lawyer said today he has moved to a small Texas town with his girlfriend to open a construction business.

Vazquez said today that Jersey City requested a "very large amount" in restitution equal to five years of salary, benefits and pension credits. He denied the city's request, calling it "not consistent with the law," and ordered Ortega to pay the city $26,185 in restitution. He is also forfeiting $18,336.

An earlier version of this story should have said prosecutors recommended a six to 12 month punishment for Ortega.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.