Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that on Friday, November 20, 2015, Thomas Lumpkins (age 27), with a last known address of 85 Congress Street, Providence, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause to possession of heroin and marijuana and possession of a firearm after being previously convicted of a crime of violence. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Lumpkins was sentenced to 20 years with 12 years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation. Lumpkins is a known associate of the H-Block criminal street gang.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on June 4, 2015, Providence Police Detective Thomas Zincone approached 85-87 Congress Avenue in his motor vehicle where he observed a disturbance involving numerous subjects in front of the residence.
Upon approaching the scene closer, Detective Zincone noticed that one individual, later identified as indicted co-conspirator Juan Lajara, was holding a handgun. Zincone exited his police vehicle and gave chase after Lajara, who ran into the residence and up the staircase. Detective Zincone was able to stop Lajara before he reached the third floor landing, causing the gun to fall from Lajara's hand.
As the Detective struggled to restrain Lajara, the door on the third floor opened and Larjara was able to free himself from the Detective long enough to grab the firearm and toss it to the individual who had opened the door.
With the help of assisting officers, Detective Zincone restrained Lajara and then entered the third floor residence where he found an individual, later identified as Thomas Lumpkins, hiding in the rear of the residence. After restraining Lumpkins, Detective Zincone conducted a sweep of the apartment looking for additional suspects. Detective Zincone observed a firearm in open dresser drawer along with was later to be determined as heroin. After a further check of the area outside an open window in the apartment, Detective Zincone located the firearm that Lajara had been in possession of, which later identified as a .380 Ruger. Police later executed a search warrant on the apartment where they seized the second weapon, a .38 caliber revolver containing five live rounds, multiple rounds of ammunition, heroin, more than 34 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Lajara was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm without a license, simple assault, and resisting arrest. The case is pending.
Providence Police Detective Thomas Zincone led the investigation. Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit James Baum prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.