DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli signed a temporary restraining order Friday revoking the Ely Avenue store’s liquor sales permit and lottery sales license, the agency announced.
The suspensions came after Norwalk police searched the store on Wednesday and said they found several bags of powder cocaine in the walk-in beer cooler.
During the search, police seized two fake handguns, seven illegal gambling machines and nearly $5,000 in cash, police said. Hidden gambling receipts were found in the machines and liquor cases in the store, police said.
Norwalk Police Chief James P. Walsh wrote a report to DCP’s Alcohol Control Division on Friday, saying police have been called to the store at least 10 times this year. The calls mostly involved “indisposed and unconscious customers lying outside the store or fighting inside or immediately outside the store,” according to DCP.
“It is clear that this establishment poses a threat to public health and safety,” Cafferelli said. “In addition to this action today, our team will be investigating all other establishments associated with the owner of Cocchia’s to ensure there is no further risk to the community. Thank you to the Norwalk Police Department for their cooperation in this action.”
Police began investigating the store after receiving information that a man named “Felix” was selling large quantities of cocaine at the store. After a lengthy investigation involving controlled purchases of cocaine at the store, police identified the suspect as Felix Galindo-Castillo, also known as “Cocchie,” police said.
According to police, Galindo-Castillo was the founder of “Los Vagos,” a violent street gang based in Mexico. There is also a federal arrest warrant against him for illegally entering the United States, police said.
During the search, police said they found cocaine on Galindo-Castillo and store employee Jose Gerardo Fuentes-Lima.
Galindo-Castillo, 48, was charged by Norwalk police on Wednesday with drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, drug possession and conspiracy to commit drug possession.
Police also charged Galindo-Castillo with fugitive from justice in connection with the federal arrest warrant, which carried a $1 million bail, police said.
Fuentes-Lima, 44, of Norwalk, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, illegal gambling, sale of a narcotic substance and conspiracy to sell a narcotic substance. His bail was set at $55,000, according to police.
This was not the first time police have found contraband in the store, police said. Walsh said Norwalk police officers and state liquor control officers raided the store in September 2022 and also seized slot machines, gaming receipts, cash and cocaine.
