Man Busted by Providence Bike Cops Gets 8 Years in Prison

8 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MAN ARRESTED BY PROVIDENCE POLICE BICYCLE OFFICERS ON GUN CHARGE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Warwick man who was found to be in possession of a firearm by two Providence Police bicycle officers while on routine patrol was sentenced Wednesday to 96 months in federal prison and 36 months supervised release. Alpha Williams, 39, pleaded guilty June 9, 2009 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha announced today's sentence which was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi.

In the early evening of December 3, 2008 two Providence Police bicycle officers observed the defendant in the vicinity of the Oxford Gardens Housing Complex sitting in the passenger seat of an automobile.  Behind the steering wheel was a second individual.  When the two officers approached the vehicle they noted the defendant rolling a “blunt” or marijuana cigar, on the dashboard of the vehicle.

When one of the officers pointed his flashlight into the car, he observed the defendant remove a black object from his waistband and hide it under the passenger seat.  Both individuals were removed from the auto and police seized the item placed under the seat; a Bryco, .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with three rounds of ammunition.

The defendant had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. He has been detained since his arrest.

The matter was investigated by Providence Police and ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose.