A Danbury woman has been arrested for running an illegal business out of her home.  Danbury Police charged 65-year old Vera Lucia Ribeiro-Menezes for criminal attempt to sell cigarettes without a license, criminal attempt to sell liquor without a permit and a variety of drug offenses. 

Several thousand dollars, a large quantity of alcohol and cigarettes and a small quantity of marijuana was confiscated on Friday. The Foster Street resident has been arrested five times over the last two years for illegal cigarette and alcohol sales. 

The activity attracted a lot of foot and vehicle traffic to the area, directly across from Head Start of Northern Fairfield County and an elderly housing complex.  The neighborhood is comprised of multifamily dwellings.

Ribeiro-Menezes was also charged on Friday Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell Within 1500’ School, Sale of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  A search warrant execution in 2018 resulted in similar offenses and the seizure of thousands of dollars in U.S. currency and a large quantity of alcohol and cigarettes.