R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-23: Defacement or alteration of manufacturer’s serial number.

Any person who: (1) willfully removes, defaces, covers, alters, or destroys the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark on any machine or any electrical or mechanical device for the purpose of preventing the detection of a crime or defrauding the manufacturer or any seller or any purchaser of the machine or the electrical or mechanical device; or (2) being a dealer in merchandise or the agent, employee, or representative of a dealer, knowingly buys, sells, receives, disposes of, conceals, or knowingly has in his or her possession any machine or any electrical or mechanical device from which the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed for a purpose specified in subdivision (1) of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor.