R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-9-6

Any individual, company, or corporation who knowingly buys, receives, disposes of, sells, offers for sale, or has in his or her possession any motor vehicle, or its parts, from which the manufacturer’s serial or engine number or derivative of that number which is ascribed to that vehicle or part by the manufacturer, the owner, or the division of motor vehicles, or from which any other distinguishing number or identification mark or number placed on it under assignment from the division of motor vehicles has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed for the purpose of concealing or misrepresenting the identity of that motor vehicle or its parts is guilty of a felony.