In 2003, Tanaka pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony as part of a political corruption probe by the Guam U.S. Attorney's Office in which Tanaka was accused of endorsing previously-rival Democratic candidate Gutierrez in 1997 in exchange for his construction firm receiving a large government contract to build school bus shelters a few months later.
Judge William Alsup sentenced Tanaka to two years of supervised release, including six months of house arrest.
In the trial, Air America Radio financier Evan Montvel Cohen testified against Tanaka.
Tanaka agreed to a plea agreement with the United States Attorneys Office in Guam; there was no trial for him.
Black also claimed that Rapadas' nomination was intended to end his ongoing investigations into corruption by public officials in Guam.