"Even though I was planning on whacking her, I'm very devoted. I know that's weird," Cruz reportedly told police when he was arrested.
Cruz tried to hire two homeless men to kill his wife, but the plot failed when the men went to the police instead.
Cruz, 48, pleaded no contest in a plea agreement to a charge of solicitation of murder, and prosecutors dropped a more serious count of attempted murder.
The agreement called for a nine-year prison sentence, but his attorney said Cruz was expected to serve half of the term because no serious, violent felony was committed.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
