Police Shut Down Joy Lounge Drug Sales Op In Danbury

DANBURY, CT — Police busted a drug sales operation working out of the Joy Lounge on Ives Street in Danbury this week, following an investigation of several months.

Police first obtained search and seizure warrants for 2 Ives Street, which consists of Joy Lounge, the second and third-floor apartments above the business; and Marshall Vines, the manager/owner of the lounge and renter of the apartments. The investigation leading to the warrants revealed that Vines was conducting drug sales from the apartments and Joy Lounge, according to police.

Detectives from the Danbury Police Department's Special Investigations Unit, assisted by the Patrol Division, executed the search warrants at 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police surveilled Vines, 55, and Gina Muzzillo, 33, also of Danbury, for a short time, before taking the pair into custody once they entered a car believed to be owned by Vines. Vines resisted the investigators' efforts and had to be forcefully handcuffed, according to the police.

Vines was in possession of eleven grams of crack cocaine when he was searched and arrested, police said. Muzzillo was found to have an active warrant for her arrest, and was also placed under arrest. During a search of Vines' residence, police located thirty-one grams of cocaine, approximately 100 grams of marijuana, scales, plastic bags for packaging, and a cooking area believed to be used to convert powder cocaine to crack cocaine. $1950 in US currency was also located and seized.

Incident to arrest, Vines and Muzzillo were transported to the Danbury Police Department, where they were processed for the listed offenses.

Police took the pair to police headquarters and charged Vines with possession of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics with intent to sell over an ounce, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a drug factory, possession of a controlled substance within 200 feet of a school zone, possession of under 5 ounces of marijuana, misuse o marker plates and interfering with a police officer. Vines' bond set was $250,000

Police charged Muzzillo with failing to appear at a previous court date. Her bond was set at $500.