NORWALK, Conn. — Cocchia’s Liquor Store on Ely Avenue in Norwalk was searched by the Norwalk Police Special Services Division on Wednesday, after search and seizure warrants were secured, according to a release Thursday from the police department.
In the store, law enforcement found seven full-size illegal gambling machines, several bags of cocaine, two facsimile handguns, thousands of dollars of cash and the leader of a violent Mexican gang, police said. The store is now closed indefinitely.
It is the second time in a year that arrests were made at the store for narcotics and gambling violations, police said.
Norwalk Police Chief James Walsh said that the location has been the site of at least 10 police calls for service this year, “most involving intoxicated and unconscious patrons lying in front of the store or engaging in fights inside or immediately outside the store,” according to a statement from the state’s Department of Consumer Protection.
According to police, law enforcement received a tip that a Mexican man named “Felix” was selling large amounts of cocaine from the store, and an investigation determined the individual was Felix-Galindo-Castillo, who also goes by “Cocchie.”
Police said Galindo-Castillo had an active federal arrest warrant and that he was the founder of the violent Los Vagos Gang based in Mexico. The federal arrest warrant was for illegal re-entry into the United States, and the Fugitive from Justice bond was set at $1 million.
The police department noted that the search warrants were for both Cocchia’s Liquor Store and Galindo-Castillo himself.
“While searching Cocchia’s, officers discovered seven full-size illegal gambling machines,” the release said. “These machines were positioned in two different locations of the store. The gambling machines pay out cash collected at the front counter by providing a receipt ticket from the gambling device and are illegal.”
Multiple bags of cocaine were also found in the walk-in beer cooler and on the person of Galindo-Castillo and another man, Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima, 44, of Norwalk. Police said two facsimile handguns were found on a shelf under the cash register.
“Approximately $4,932 in U.S. currency was seized from the gambling machines and found wrapped in rubber bands with gambling receipts,” the release said. “These were hidden in various liquor boxes in the store. The proceeds of illegal gambling and cocaine sales will be applied for through state asset forfeiture.”
Police said they also seized the inner control servers for the gambling machines.
The investigation is ongoing. The Norwalk Fire Department Fire Marshals Division and DCP aided in the investigation.
The release from police notes that Fuentes-Lima was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit/possession of a controlled substance, illegal gambling, sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit/sale of a narcotic substance. His bond was set at $55,000, and he is set to appear in court on Aug. 21.
DCP’s statement regarding the investigation said that Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli signed a summary suspension of the package store permit and the Lottery Sales Agent License for Cocchia’s Liquor Store.
“It is clear this establishment is a danger to public health and safety,” Cafferelli said in the DCP statement. “In addition to this action (Wednesday), our team will be investigating all other establishments associated with the ownership of Cocchia’s to ensure there is no further risk to the community.”
Cafferelli went on to thank Norwalk police for their collaborative effort.
The premise package store permit is immediately suspended, and the store is closed until further notice, according to DCP.
“The lottery sales agent license is also immediately suspended, and the store cannot engage in lottery sales until further notice,” the DCP statement said.
Anyone concerned about a liquor permit holder in Connecticut can contact DCP’s Liquor Control Division at 860-713-6210, or by emailing dcp.liquorcontrol@ct.gov.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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