Khaalif Preacher, 28, and an accomplice told the tourists who had arrived at the airport that their van was a taxi service. The incident occurred in June 2009. The van began speeding, attracting the attention of police who gave chase through residential streets, court documents said. Some 10 police vehicles joined the pursuit.

"As the vehicle was still moving (the taxi driver and accomplice) jumped out, fleeing on foot, leaving their five screaming tourists locked inside the still moving vehicle, which crashed into a stop sign and then a US Postal Service truck," court documents said.

Preacher, who was sentenced on Thursday, pleaded guilty in October to one count of reckless endangerment, a district attorney spokeswoman said. The accomplice, Ian McFarlane, 58, was previously sentenced to 90 days in jail.