Louis Gelfuso

James Miller

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EAST PROVIDENCE — Past and present employees of the East Providence Police Department were arrested by the Rhode Island State Police Thursday, Nov. 5, for illegally accessing law enforcement database information.

The arrests were announced on Friday afternoon, Nov. 6.

The RISP Major Crimes Unit arrested James A. Miller, 61, of 94 Clyde St., and Louis Gelfuso, 51, of 23 Floyd St., on the following charges:

1. Access to a Computer for Fraudulent Purpose.
2. Soliciting Another to Commit a Crime.
3. Conspiracy.

The investigation revealed that on Sunday, Oct. 18, two inquiries on a State Police unmarked vehicle’s license plate had been made for registration data through a dispatch console within the East Providence Police Department. The unmarked vehicle had not been in the City of East Providence on that date and there was not a valid reason for the inquiries to be run.

Records obtained by the Rhode Island State Police and East Providence Police revealed that Mr. Miller, who previously worked as an East Providence Police Dispatcher, allegedly solicited Mr. Gelfuso, the current East Providence Police Dispatcher, to check the license plate to obtain the registered owner’s information.

Inquires on vehicle registration information are conducted through the Rhode Island Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems (RILETS)/National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems (NLETS) network. This network is restricted to official law enforcement business as indicated on RILETS User Rules of Behavior Acknowledgement Form. Acknowledging the rules is a requirement prior to use of the system.

Mr. Gelfuso and Mr. Miller acknowledged these rules with their signatures when hired as dispatchers. Any violation of the rules that are reported to appropriate authorities are subject to further actions as deemed appropriate to include, disciplinary, civil, or criminal penalties.

Mr. Miller was arraigned at Sixth District Court and released on $10,000 personal recognizance.

Mr. Gelfuso was arraigned at State Police Headquarters by a Justice of the Peace and released on $10,000 personal recognizance.

A person found guilty of access to computer for fraudulent purposes shall be guilty of a felony and may be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.

A person found guilty of soliciting another to commit a crime shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be subject to the same fine and imprisonment as pertain to the offense which the person did solicit another to commit, provided that imprisonment shall not exceed 10 years.

A person found guilty of conspiracy shall be subject to the same fine and imprisonment as pertain to the offense which the person shall have conspired to commit, provided that imprisonment for the conspiracy shall not exceed 10 years.