A former police officer was sentenced to four consecutive life prison terms on Monday for his role in a 2016 Orange County quadruple murder.

Emotions ran high during Nicholas Tartaglione’s long-awaited sentencing at the federal courthouse in White Plains. The victims’ family called him a “monster” and an “animal” during their victim’s impact statements.

Tartaglione was found guilty by a jury last year of kidnapping and murdering Martin Luna, his nephews Miguel Luna, Urbano Santiago and their family friend, Hector Gutierrez when plans to start a narcotics business with Martin Luna soured.

“I’ve waited years for this day,” said Lisa Holloway, Martin Luna’s ex-wife in court. “You piece of {expletive}. May you die slow and alone in that freezing {expletive} prison. May you rot. Karma is a {expletive}.”

Tensions boiled over after Holloway’s remarks and court officers stood between both families in opposite aisles to squash an angry exchange of words.

U.S. District Judge Kenneith Karas spoke at length about why he denied Tartaglione’s new defense’s request to postpone the sentencing. He said he didn’t feel any of Tartaglione’s allegations about a mistrial or claims of innocence could be proven true and sentenced the former Briarcliff Manor police officer to four consecutive life sentences in prison.

Outside of court, the victims’ family said they’re happy with the sentencing, while Tartaglione’s family told News 12 that the wrong person is behind bars for the killings.

“Nick has spent years in animal rescue and helping people,” says Tartaglione’s cousin, Stephanie Nuss. “It hurt my heart that people think differently. He’s not a murderer.”

Tartaglione, who once shared a federal prison cell with Jeffrey Epstein before the disgraced financier’s death by suicide, spoke exclusively with News 12 in a jailhouse interview last week by phone in a last-ditch effort to change the outcome of his case.

“I’m not a killer,” said Tartaglione. “I was running an animal rescue. That’s who I am. I have the evidence to get me home.”

In his sentencing remarks, Karas said he agrees with the victim’s family and called Tartaglione a monster.

Tartaglione spoke out after the sentencing was handed down saying he “knows the truth.”

His attorney, Inga Parsons, spoke at length during court about Tartaglione’s history of helping animals, children and people in need. She said after court that they plan to file an appeal.

“The judge made his decision. I disagree with it,” says Parsons. “At the end of the day, that’s why we go to the appeals court and that’s where we are headed now.”