Licenses Committee renews Citco convenience store license despite multiple police calls, issues warning

The Milwaukee Licenses Committee renewed licenses for Citco at 4928 West Villard on Feb. 19, after hearing a summary of multiple police calls at the site over 2023–24, and after the agent described steps taken to address loitering, trespass and other incidents.

Sergeant Guadalupe Velasquez summarized police activity tied to the site, citing repeated calls for disturbances, loitering and an incident in December when a person collapsed in the store’s parking lot and later died; officers also reported episodes involving restraining-order violations, alleged drug use or dealing on the property, and a later robbery and a carjacking in which the store’s lot was a location where a victim was approached. The report named several follow-up police actions and noted cooperation from the store’s agents on evidence requests.

The agent, Rajmaninder Singh Sangha (representing Sahej and Saheb LLC, Citco), and his counsel, Attorney Emilio Viegele, told the committee the business fired one employee after a tobacco sale to a minor and retrained staff on ID checks. Viegele said the agent had obtained a temporary restraining order against a persistent loiterer and worked with police and the business-improvement partners to reduce incidents. “We also obtained a temporary restraining order…we are working with MPD to discuss the FUSUS program and to give live camera access,” Viegele said, and added that the store had retrained staff and provided better supervision of tobacco and ID checks.

Alderman Marina Pratt, representing the district, recommended approval with a warning letter after discussing ongoing concerns and confirming the store had taken corrective action, including terminating at least one employee implicated in selling tobacco to a minor and providing retraining. The committee approved the renewal motion with a warning letter; no roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript and the chair announced there were no objections.

Why it matters: The store has been the focus of repeated police calls, including medical emergencies, loitering, an alleged drug presence and alleged staff non-cooperation in earlier incidents. The licensing outcome reflects an emphasis on correcting operational issues (staff training, camera access) while preserving business continuity with conditions.

Details and conditions: Attorney Viegele said the business provided new procedures (ID scanning at point of sale, employee retraining, termination of employees responsible for illegal sales) and promised further cooperation with MPD on camera access. The committee’s action included a warning letter; the Licensing Division indicated it will monitor compliance and may require additional enforcement steps if incidents recur.

Quote from the meeting: “When my client was advised of [the tobacco sale to a minor], that employee was terminated immediately, at the scene, and the owner also retrained every employee on their tobacco handling policies,” Attorney Emilio Viegele said.

Next steps: Licensing staff will track the mitigation steps the applicant has pledged and coordinate with MPD and the Alderman’s office to determine follow-up requirements. The warning letter was placed on the record and will remain part of the license file.