NEWARK -- Domenico Lillo, the disgraced ex-cop who admitted to beating a man with a flashlight and lying about it, stood in a federal courtroom Monday and apologized to just about everyone for his crimes.

Everyone, except for the man on the receiving end of the violent outburst in 2013.

Lillo, 48, was sentenced to 42 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty after previously pleading guilty to using excessive force during the Dec. 27, 2013 arrest of Brandon Walsh.

In an unrelated case, he confessed to falsifying government records with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help a relative obtain a $20,000 loan intended for low- to moderate-income residents.

"I stand before you with much sorrow and regret. ... Not only did I ruin my own life, but I also ruined the lives of others," he said in the Newark federal courtroom. "I'd first like to apologize to my wife and daughter, next to the citizens of Bayonne -- who I swore to protect and not harm. I'd also like to apologize to all of my colleagues I used to work with."

"I stand here before you with my head hung low," he said, asking the judge to grant "as much leniency as possible."

On his list of apologies, Lillo left out Walsh and members of his family, the victims of the attack who sued the city and were awarded at least $1.6 million. The family's federal lawsuit alleged Lillo and other officers unnecessarily and without warning pepper-sprayed them when they entered the home causing everyone, including children, a disabled woman and the family dog, to become "violently ill.''

The Jersey Journal sued the city for the terms of the confidential settlement, which were eventually released in March after a protracted legal battle.

Before announcing the terms of Lillo's sentencing Monday, McNulty told the courtroom that "police are expected not to abuse their position in this manner."

"This is an assault on a helpless man by a police officer. ... This is a very serious offense indeed, from my point of view," McNulty said.

But he also empathized with Lillo, who told the courtroom that the loss of his son in 2008 and the fact that his wife is battling cancer contributed to his behavior. His wife, Rose, pleaded guilty and served one year of probation for her role in the scheme to fraudulently obtain the $20,000 loan.

"There are certain things about the defendant's background that, while not excusing the conduct, make it more understandable," the judge said.

Nonetheless, he passed down the sentence as Lillo sat stoically, while his family wept behind him in the courtroom. McNulty said Lillo would begin his prison sentence "after the holidays."

A city spokesman declined to comment on the sentencing.

Lillo first found himself under federal spotlight when investigators began questioning the fraudulent HUD application he filed in order to to get a federally funded rehabilitation loan on a home he co-owned.

Then on Dec. 27, 2013, officers Lillo, Francis Styles and James Wade arrived separately at the Walsh home near the corner of Avenue C and West 53rd Street. Walsh, 25 at the time, had an arrest warrant out of Sussex County for failing to appear in court.

In video footage, Lillo can be seen viciously striking him with a flashlight, while the three officers were escorting Walsh away from the scene. Walsh required 15 stitches following his arrest. Lillo later resigned from the Bayonne Police Department.

Lillo specifically pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of civil rights and one count of falsifying records to impede a civil rights investigation – charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The falsifying records charge for the HUD scheme carries a potential prison term of up to 20 years.

Monday's court proceedings ended a series of adjournments and postponements. Lillo's sentencing, which was originally scheduled for April 2016, was adjourned 10 times.

As part of his plea deal, he testified in federal court for more than two consecutive days in December 2017 against Styles, who the government alleged knowingly covered up Lillo's use of excessive force. During his testimony, Lillo said he fully expected Styles and other officers to cover up his use of force the night of the incident in 2013.

"It was my understanding... (that) when the incident report was written the flashlight strike would be omitted," Lillo told the jury.

But the case ended in a mistrial after jurors told McNulty they were hopelessly deadlocked.

Officials in subsequent months signaled they would retry Styles -- pushing back Lillo's sentencing hearing a number of times -- but announced later that they were dropping the charges against Styles.

Members of Styles' family were present during Lillo's sentencing, as well as defense attorneys who represented Styles during the trial last December.

In addition to the prison term, McNulty sentenced Lillo to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $20,000 to the city of Bayonne.

Lillo was also one of several Bayonne police officers named in a police brutality lawsuit that resulted in a $100,000 settlement for the two men who brought the lawsuit, The Jersey Journal reported in 2011.

McNulty spoke out against the blue wall of silence before issuing his sentencing.

"There is a culture, unfortunately, in law enforcement of closing ranks. ... we all have these feelings of solidarity, but there is a need to break through the idea that no matter what you do your fellow officers will support you," he said.

"I understand what the federal government is up to when they go after these cases aggressively. They need to make others understand that this kind of thing is going to have serious consequences."

Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.