Man skips $2 metro fare, gets 7 years for carrying gun illegally

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A New York man was sentenced to seven years in prison after he was caught carrying an illegal handgun--because he was trying to avoid paying the $2.25 fare on the subway.

Ruben Sanabria, 37, was arrested March 30, 2012, when metro police caught him trying to beat the fare at the 14th Street Station in Manhattan. He was carrying a loaded .40-caliber Smith & Wesson in his waistband.

Sanabria was sentenced to seven years in prison and 42 months of parole after he pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, the New York Post reported.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. told the Post Sanabria got what he deserved.

“This defendant illegally carried a loaded semiautomatic firearm into a public transportation system used by thousands of people every day,” Vance said.

“Preventing gun violence is one of my top priorities as district attorney, and I will make sure that this office continues to seek strong sentences for crimes involving firearms.”