RI Hell's Angels Leader Gets 5 Years In Prison After Pleading Guilty, Joseph Lancia, 30, Was Sentenced To Five Years For Shooting And Assault Charges.

[Gregory Carr]

Crime & Safety
RI Hell's Angels Leader Gets 5 Years In Prison
After pleading guilty, Joseph Lancia was sentenced to five years for shooting and assault charges.
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Posted Fri, Jan 21, 2022 at 4:11 pm ET
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Joseph Lancia, 30, pleaded no contest to assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a pistol without a license, and assault for the purpose of causing unconsciousness.
Joseph Lancia, 30, pleaded no contest to assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a pistol without a license, and assault for the purpose of causing unconsciousness. (Shutterstock)
PROVIDENCE, RI — The leader of the Rhode Island Hell's Angels will serve five years in prison for charges related to a 2019 shooting and a 2020 fight outside a Providence strip club, Attorney General Peter Eronha announced Friday.

Joseph Lancia, 30, pleaded no contest to assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a pistol without a license, and assault for the purpose of causing unconsciousness, Neronha's Office said. He was sentenced to 15 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions, with five to serve. For the assault charge, he was sentenced to three years in prison, with one to serve. It will be served concurrently with the first. The judge also issued a no-contact order with the victim, as well as $3,650 in restitution.

Lancia was scheduled to begin his sentence Feb. 18.

"Regardless of what the references are in pop culture, the only thing the defendant and his association with a known criminal gang represents is a risk to the safety of Rhode Islanders," Neronha said. "The people of our state should feel safer knowing that this defendant is going to serve significant time behind bars. I am particularly grateful to the Rhode Island State Police for their comprehensive work on a critical investigation like this."

The first arrest was in 2019, when Lancia was charged following a shooting outside the Hell's Angels Clubhouse in Providence.

According to Neronha's Office, the victim drove a Mack semi-truck past the clubhouse the morning of June 12, 2019. Lancia, who was standing on the sidewalk, pulled out a gun and fired a single shot at the truck. The victim then drove away, Neronha's Office said, and Lancia went back inside the clubhouse.

The second incident happened Feb. 29. 2020, outside a Providence strip club. During a fight involving other members of the gang, Lancia punched a man and knocked him unconscious, Neronha's Office said.

"I applaud the exhaustive investigative efforts of our Troopers and the Attorney General's office for bringing Mr. Lancia to justice," State Police Col. James Manni said. "The illegal, dangerous, and reckless behavior of this defendant put children and other bystanders in grave danger during this incident and I'm glad he will be off our streets for a number of years."

https://patch.com/rhode-island/cranston/ri-hells-angels-leader-gets-5-years-prison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecbQtW_NtSU He has a Hell's Angel tat on his bald head.

He did the crime he will now do the time. The H.A.M.C. is a crime gang and needs to be banned. His mask he wore in court was cool within his subculture and it is good he had a dozen H.A. members in court to see him through this major life event some ppl have little or no support.

RI Hells Angels president changes plea in gun case; sentenced to five years
TARGET 12
by: Tim White

Posted: Jan 21, 2022 / 02:39 PM EST / Updated: Jan 21, 2022 / 06:26 PM EST

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Joseph Lancia, the president of the Hells Angels in Rhode Island, changed his plea on Friday after reaching a deal with prosecutors, and was sentenced to serve five years in prison.

Lancia, 30, of Smithfield, appeared in Providence Superior Court along with about a dozen members of the motorcycle club wearing their full patch jackets for the hearing before Associate Justice Kristin Rodgers.

Lancia pleaded nolo contendre (no contest) to the charge of felony assault and battery, as well as carrying a gun without a license. The more serious charges of discharging a firearm when committing a crime of violence, and assault with intent to commit murder, were dismissed as part of the deal.

Lancia must return to court on Feb. 18 to turn himself in so he can begin his sentence at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston. Along with the five years in prison, he will also be on probation for 10 years.

The main case against Lancia stems from a June 2019 incident when police said he fired a gun at a truck driven by Richard Starnino – once a prospect to join the biker club – who was involved in an ongoing dispute with Lancia.

Investigators said video surveillance shows Lancia shooting at the truck as Starnino was driving by the Hells Angels Providence headquarters on Messer Street. The video – the main evidence against Lancia – was from the clubhouse’s own security system.

The investigation into the shooting led to a dramatic daytime raid by the R.I. State Police.

Lancia also pleaded no contest to one count of assault with the purpose of knocking someone unconscious; two other counts were dropped. Those charges stemmed from an altercation in March 2020 when a Providence police officer said he witnessed Lancia punch someone outside the Cadillac Lounge strip club. He was out on bail for the gun case at the time.

During Friday’s court appearance, Rodgers asked Lancia if the facts of the case were true.

“Yes,” he replied.

After the hearing Lancia declined to comment, but his attorney Joseph Voccola said his client decided to change his plea because “we thought it was in his best interest to do so and he wanted to put these matters behind him.”

Lancia was also ordered to stay away from Starnino for eight years as part of the plea deal.

Totaling all nine original charges against Lancia, he faced a maximum sentence of 61 years in prison if he were found guilty at trial.

Rodgers warned Lancia that on Feb. 18, when he is scheduled to return to court to be sent to the ACI, she would send him to prison for the full 18-year sentence “should you not appear in a timely manner, and I mean even five minutes late,” or if he violates the conditions of his release.

Also changing his plea was Lance Imor, 57, a full-patch member of the biker gang. Imor pleaded no contest to one charge that he removed some video surveillance equipment from the Messer Street headquarters on the day of the shooting and raid.

Assistant Attorney General Joseph McBurney told the court the video showed Lancia firing the gun at Starnino. Imor was sentenced to four years of probation.

State police had the clubhouse under 24-hour surveillance using what’s called a pole cam positioned near the building.

In a statement Attorney General Peter Neronha thanked the state police for their work on the case and said, “the people of our state should feel safer knowing that this defendant is going to serve significant time behind bars.”

“Regardless of what the references are in pop culture, the only thing the defendant and his association with a known criminal gang represents is a risk to the safety of Rhode Islanders,” he said.

Tim White (twh...@wpri.com) is the Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter at 12 News, and the host of Newsmakers. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

https://www.wpri.com/target-12/ri-hells-angels-president-changes-plea-in-gun-case-sentenced-to-five-years/

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/143793 Mr. Starino the failed prospect is a former pro boxer. http://www.sportenote.com/vedi_dettagli.asp?id=15495 has a pic of him.

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
09/18/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/18/2021 08:04

Lincoln Woods Barracks
At 6 :15 AM, Detectives of the Violent Fugitive Task Force & Intelligence Unit along with Troopers of the Lincoln Woods barracks arrested Richard Starnino, age 49, of 603 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence, RI for 1.) Domestic Simple Assault 3rd or more Offense, 2.) Domestic Disorderly Conduct, 3.) Disorderly Conduct. The arrest was the result of a barracks investigation. The subject was transported to Lincoln Woods Barracks, processed, and later transported to Third District Court. http://www.publicnow.com/view/3D7DBDA290D3AE639A2DB4FAC8DC71E46EDCCA66

https://www.facebook.com/bobo.starnino.7 His FB has not been used in two years.

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/22541803/robert-t-starnino-sr his brother died only 4 months ago.

Trucker kept on trucking after Hells Angels president shot at him
TARGET 12
by: Tim White

Posted: Jul 29, 2019 / 02:01 PM EDT / Updated: Dec 10, 2019 / 10:21 AM EST

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The trucker targeted last month by the local president of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club went on to finish a delivery for his employer with a bullet hole in his vehicle, a newly released search warrant reveals.

On June 12, members of the state police intelligence unit were tipped off to a “felony assault with a firearm that occurred outside the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club clubhouse” on Messer Street in Providence, according to the affidavit for the search warrant.

Police say they were told the president of the club, Joseph Lancia, fired one round at the passenger side of a Mack truck that was being driven by Richard Starnino.

Detectives then tracked down Starnino, who drove to the state police barracks in Lincoln, where they saw “a bullet hole in the passenger side pillar between the front windshield and passenger side window.” They also found “a projectile resting on a portion of the vehicle’s undercarriage on the passenger side.”

Starnino told detectives earlier in the day he was turning onto Messer Street to make a delivery for his employer when he saw Lancia remove a “silver firearm from the small of his back and fire one round into the passenger side of the vehicle.”

“Starnino said he did not stop after the shooting and proceeded to make his work delivery to the area of Broad Street in the City of Providence,” according to the affidavit.

The affidavit reveals Starnino was a “former prospect” of the motorcycle club, and “there has been an ongoing dispute between them that led” Starnino to leave the Hells Angels.

The search warrant reveals state police had been keeping tabs on the clubhouse using “static electronic surveillance,” which is most commonly a hidden camera usually located on a telephone pole. The video confirmed Starnino’s story, according to the affidavit.

Based on the information, the state police asked a judge for what’s called a “no knock” search warrant, where police can enter a building with little or no warning. Detectives wrote they were concerned anyone inside the clubhouse would “attempt to dispose of evidence while members of law enforcement are executing the search warrant.”

Search warrant in hand, state police surrounded the Messer Street building later that day, and demanded anyone on the inside to come out. They eventually used a vehicle called a BearCat to forcibly enter the building by ramming in the front door.

Lancia, 28, was arrested that day and later indicted on charges of assault with the intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Two associates were also indicted on charges that stemmed from the findings of the search warrant.

Lance R. Imor, 54, of West Warwick, was charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine), compounding and concealing a felony, and misprision (concealment) of a felony. The state police have identified Imor as a full-patch member of the Hells Angels.


(L-R) Joseph Lancia, Lance Imor, and Amber Gill
Amber E. Gill, 25, of Providence, was indicted for possession of a schedule I controlled substance (THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol).

Inside the clubhouse, the state police seized 25 items, including three guns and “an axe from within ceiling of room #2.”

They also searched a 2018 Tesla Model 3 that Lancia was driving but was registered to Imor. They seized two cell phones, a surveillance camera that was in the trunk and a “clear plastic bag containing a white substance.”

Lancia was released on $100,000 surety bail. He and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty.

A fundraiser for Lancia was scheduled to be held at the clubhouse on June 30 to raise money for his legal fees, according to a Facebook post.

A flier on the Facebook page showed a picture of Lancia with “Keep Joe Free!” as the banner. The flier said there was a $20 entry fee for the “defense party for the Messer St. Monster.”

https://www.facebook.com/WPRI12/posts/the-trucker-told-detectives-earlier-in-the-day-he-was-turning-onto-messer-street/10156461434448202/

603 Fruit Hill Ave, North Providence, RI 02911 https://clustrmaps.com/person/Starnino-7ank85 he is a renter.