News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
Peter F. Neronha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
February 16, 2012
Warwick Man Sentenced on Federal Firearm Charge, Probation Violation
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Bernard Tribble, 41, of Warwick, R.I., was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi to 30 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and to a consecutive sentence of five months in prison for violating the terms of supervised release from a previous drug and firearm conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha.
Tribble, who had completed serving a 70 month federal prison sentence on drug trafficking and gun possession charges imposed in June 2004, and who was serving a term of three years of supervised release imposed as part of the sentence, was found to be in possession of a firearm and arrested by Providence Police in September 2011.
According to information presented to the court, on September 9, 2011, Tribble was driving a vehicle that was pursued and stopped by Providence Police during an investigation into reports of gunshots fired in downtown Providence. As police approached the area where the shots were fired, a vehicle sped from the scene and was pursued by police. The vehicle was stopped a short time later and the driver, later identified as Bernard Tribble, was removed from the vehicle by police. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered and seized a handgun from under the front seat.
In a subsequent interview with an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Tribble admitted that the gun was his and that had he bought it approximately a year earlier for $300. Tribble told the agent that his fingerprints might be on the weapon and that he had shot the gun in the past, but claimed that he never shot it at anyone. Tribble told the agent that he needed the gun for protection.
Tribble has been detained since his arrest.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis M. Matos. The matter was investigated by Providence Police and ATF.
Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov
