Danbury Woman Ran Illegal Business From Apartment: Police

DANBURY, CY — Police raided a woman's Foster Street apartment Friday after they said she illegally sold cigarettes and alcohol.

It's the sixth time in the last three years that Vera Lucia Ribeiro-Menezes, 66, has faced charges of operating an illegal business from her Foster Street apartment.

Police executed a search warrant at Ribeiro-Menezes' apartment and charged her with criminal attempt to dispense alcohol without a permit and unlicensed sale of cigarettes. She was released for a promise to appear in court.

In April 2018, Ribeiro-Menezes was the target of the Danbury police's "Operation 3-2-1," which seized nearly $12,000 cash, 861 cans of beer, 2,251 nips and 5,563 cigarettes from her apartment.

In November, police confiscated several thousand dollars, a large quantity of alcohol and cigarettes and a small quantity of marijuana in their investigation.

Ribeiro-Menezes’ apartment sits directly across the street from Head Start of Northern Fairfield County, an elderly housing complex, and is part of a neighborhood comprised of multifamily dwellings.

Police Detective Lieutenant Mark Williams said, "As Ribeiro-Menezes’ business has attracted a lot of foot and vehicle traffic to the area, our attention has repeatedly been drawn to her apartment."