R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-5.1-7

No person, whether or not he or she is a resident of the state, shall engage in the private security guard business without first obtaining from the attorney general a license to conduct the business, as subsequently provided. No person shall conduct the business under the license of another person nor shall any person lease or sublease a license to another person; provided, that this provision does not apply to any person conducting the business under the license of another person, or who is the lessee or sublessee of a license of another person as of July 10, 1989. A license entitles the holder to conduct the businesses defined in § 5-5.1-2(a) and (b). Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony.