Police say Citgo on State sold prescription pills and other items; owner denies knowingly selling illegal drugs

La Crosse police told the Judiciary & Administration Committee on June 5 they found repackaged prescription pills and other concerning items during compliance checks at MEMA Enterprises LLC, which does business as Citgo on State (1914 State Road), and urged the committee to recommend nonrenewal of the store’s licenses.

Sgt. Daniel Mandujano described a November 17, 2025 compliance check conducted with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue that located glass pipes, small clear baggies, large and single‑use nitrous‑oxide ("whippet") canisters, and approximately 175 pills whose packaging, after being pieced together, read "by prescription only" and identified the active ingredient as sildenafil. Mandujano said an employee told officers the pills were being sold for $7 apiece and that cash from those alleged sales was placed in a cigar box rather than entered into the point‑of‑sale system.

Mandujano said a February 2026 follow‑up inspection with the DOR tobacco/vape division turned up 22 additional similar pills hidden under the cash register, vaping products not on the state registry and flavored nitrous‑oxide products. He told the committee he consulted a Mayo Clinic pharmacist who said the 200‑milligram dosage marked on some packaging was not commercially available in the United States. The officer said he arrested the agent on a charge related to selling prescription drugs without prescription and released him on a signature bond; the criminal case is pending.

Attorney Gideon Wertheimer, representing the city, told the committee the evidence and prior convictions justify nonrenewal. The complainant identified two convictions in the current license year and alleged false statements on the renewal application.

Defense attorney Sean Griffin said the city bears a high, fact‑specific burden to prove lack of qualifications for licensing and argued the record contained credibility gaps. Owner Indras "Tony" Chiragdeen told the committee he did not sell the pills, said some packs had been dropped off by a customer who sometimes stopped at the store, and said he intends to pursue a diversion agreement in the pending criminal matter. Employee Saurim ("Sam") Khan testified he handled a package left for the owner, said he did not sell the confiscated pills and said language confusion may have contributed to misunderstanding in some employee statements to officers.

The committee did not rule at the hearing. It will deliberate in closed session on Tuesday, June 9, and finalize a written recommendation on Thursday, June 11; the city council will make the final licensing decision and both parties may object to the committee’s report before the council.