R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9.1-2

Any officer, agent or servant of a carrier who, with intent to defraud issues or aids in issuing a bill of lading knowing that all or any part of the goods for which the bill is issued have not been received by the carrier, or by an agent of the carrier or by a connecting carrier, or are not under the carrier’s control at the time of issuing the bill, shall be guilty of a crime, and upon conviction shall be punished for each offense by imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.