A career criminal has been sentenced to 18 years to life in a Bronx court for a botched robbery that yielded a pack of cigarettes and four one-dollar bills.

Keith Fagan, 48, interrupted the cross-examination Tuesday of one of two women he tried to rob Feb. 4, 2009, on East 180th Street at Vyse Avenue, to tell the judge that he wanted to apologize and plead guilty.

He admitted putting his hand in his pocket to make it appear he had a gun when he committed the crime.

He was captured nearby.

Supreme Court Justice George Villegas handed down the harsh sentence, citing four previous convictions on robbery and sodomy charges.

Fagan’s record dates back to his teen years. He’s spent most of his adult life in prison.