“I'm sorry to my wife and family. I'm embarrassed.” 

That's what John “Boom” Mantanona said before a federal court judge just before he was sentenced for jury tampering on Thursday. 

The retired cop and former FBI task force member was sentenced to 60 months in prison and 2 years supervised release at the District Court Of Guam. 

Judge John Coughenour handed down the sentence after hearing final arguments from prosecution and his Attorney Jay Arriola.  

As reported, Mantanona pleaded guilty in 2020 to a charge of obstructing justice, after admitting to trying to influence a juror during a 2018 drug trial involving two of his clients while working as a private investigator.

Arriola said Mantanona and his wife have lived in fear for the last five years, fearful of being watched and followed by “powerful, notorious people.”

He argued for leniency citing Mantanona’s cooperation with police. 

He added there's a disparity in sentencing compared to the actual defendants on trial, who got a lesser sentence. 

But Coughenour said he has a hard time believing Mantanona acted alone and questioned the level of cooperation.

Prosecution argued there is no disparity in this case as Mantanona is more culpable because of his more than thirty years of experience in law enforcement. 

Prosecution argued he used that experience to “betray law enforcement and the court. The federal judge noted the jury tampering case comes at a time when "the judicial system is under attack." 

He said the interference with the jury cannot be tolerated. 

On top of his sentence, Mantanona was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine, $100 special assessment fine and to self surrender.