NYC airport cabbie who pleaded guilty in fare hustle gone awry gets 6 months in jail

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A New York City cab driver charged in a fare scam gone awry at Kennedy Airport has been sentenced to six months in jail.

A judge handed down the sentence after driver Bhupinder Singh (boo-PIHN'-dur sing) pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment last month.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown says two police officers spotted a family of four from Panama getting into a gypsy cab in February.

The officers say they recognized the driver as a hustler who charges sky-high rates for what are supposed to be $45 rides from the Queens airport into Manhattan. They say they tried to warn the passengers but the driver locked the doors and took off and then crashed.

Two adult passengers were treated for bumps and bruises.

Singh was sentenced on Monday.