On Wednesday, August 7th, 2024, the Norwalk Police Special Services Division executed search and seizure warrants, along with a federal arrest warrant, at Cocchia’s Liquor Store on Ely Avenue in Norwalk. Information had surfaced about a Mexican male named “Felix” selling large quantities of cocaine from the store. An investigation involving controlled purchases of cocaine identified “Felix” as Felix Galindo-Castillo, also known as Cocchie. Galindo-Castillo, who had an active federal arrest warrant, was also found to be the founder of the violent Los Vagos Gang based in Mexico. The federal New York arrest warrant charged him with illegal re-entry into the United States, with a bond set at $1 million.
The search warrants covered both Cocchia’s Liquor Store and Galindo-Castillo himself. Officers discovered seven full-size illegal gambling machines within the store, which were found in two separate locations. These machines, which pay out cash collected at the front counter through a receipt ticket from the gambling device, are illegal. Additionally, several bags of cocaine were found in the walk-in beer cooler and on the persons of Galindo-Castillo and another individual, Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima.
Two facsimile handguns were located on a shelf under the cash register, and approximately $4,932 in US currency was seized from the gambling machines and found wrapped in rubber bands with gambling receipts hidden in various liquor boxes. The proceeds from the illegal gambling and cocaine sales will be applied for through state asset forfeiture. The inner control servers for each gambling machine were also seized during the search. This investigation is ongoing and marks the second time in a year that arrests have been made at this location for narcotics and gambling violations. The Norwalk Fire Department Fire Marshalls Division and the CT State Consumer Protection Division (Liquor Control) assisted in this investigation.
Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima, 44, of Norwalk, was arrested on August 7, 2024. He faces charges of 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 is set at $55,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court on August 21, 2024.
Felix Galindo-Castillo, 48, of Norwalk, was also arrested on August 7, 2024. He faces charges of sale of narcotics, conspiracy to commit/sale of narcotics, possession of narcotics, conspiracy to commit/possession of narcotics, and fugitive from justice for a federal New York arrest warrant charging illegal re-entry into the United States. His bond is set at $55,000, with an additional $1,000,000 bond for the fugitive from justice charge. He is scheduled to appear in court on August 21, 2024.