Feds arrest Norwalk sheriff, 6 others on drug charges

BRIDGEPORT -- A Norwalk city sheriff and six other people were arrested early Tuesday on drug trafficking charges following a lengthy investigation that involved wiretaps, surveillance and undercover buys.

An eighth man is being sought by federal authorities and Norwalk police.

Efstrati Papadakos, the Norwalk sheriff, was ordered detained without bond pending further proceedings Thursday. Papadakos is also a local real estate agent with Papadakos Real Estate and M&S Properties. A city sheriff's duty includes serving legal papers for the municipality.

Papadakos did carry a badge and supposedly tried to use it to talk his way out of a Westchester County traffic stop recently, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Richards.

Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia declined comment on Papadakos' arrest or future status as an elected city official.

Also arrested were Dimitrios Karpidis; Savvas Giannoglou; John Yerinides; Qasim Seyal; Carlos Hendricks and James Lyons, all of Norwalk. The arrests are part of a lengthy investigation into a ring that dealt cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana in the Norwalk area, according to Richards.

The seven appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons who advised them of their constitutional rights before granting Richards' request to detain all without bond pending future proceedings.

It is expected that Richards will be seeking an indictment next week naming additional defendants.