A liquor store in Norwalk, Connecticut was closed on Friday following a raid that uncovered seven illegal gambling machines, two fake guns, and $4,932 in cash. The store, Cocchia’s Liquor Store on Ely Avenue, also harbored bags of cocaine stored in a walk-in beer cooler, according to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). Authorities also discovered gambling receipts on the premises.

“The gambling machines pay out cash collected at the front counter by providing a receipt ticket from the gambling device, and are illegal,” stated the Norwalk Police Department.

In response to the discovery, DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli suspended the store’s alcohol sales license and lottery ticket sales license. Cafferelli expressed the grave danger posed by the establishment, stating, “It is clear this establishment is a danger to public health and safety. In addition to this action today, 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.”

The crackdown followed a tip from an informant alleging that a person identified as “Felix” was selling cocaine out of the liquor store. Undercover officers confirmed the illegal activities by purchasing drugs at the business, leading to the identification of Felix Galindo-Castillo, 48, of Norwalk, also known as “Cocchie.” Galindo-Castillo is the founder of “Los Vagos,” a gang tied to violent street activities in Mexico, police revealed.

Galindo-Castillo was arrested on several charges, including the sale of narcotics, conspiracy to commit the sale of narcotics, possession of narcotics, and conspiracy to commit possession of narcotics. At the time of his arrest, he had suspected cocaine on him. He also faces a federal arrest warrant for illegal re-entry into the United States and was charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bail was set at $1 million.

A store employee, 44-year-old Jose Gerardo Fuentes-Lima of Norwalk, was also implicated in the illegal operations. Fuentes-Lima was found in possession of cocaine and subsequently charged with possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance, illegal gambling, sale of a narcotic substance, and conspiracy to commit the sale of a narcotic substance. His bail was set at $55,000.

This was not the first time Cocchia’s Liquor Store faced scrutiny. In September 2022, Norwalk police officers and state liquor control agents seized gambling machines, gambling receipts, an unspecified amount of cash, and suspected cocaine in a separate raid on the same business. The outcome of that previous case remains unclear.