Long Island man with 850 snakes looking to legalize business

SHIRLEY, N.Y. (WABC) -- The Long Island man accused of selling reptiles out of his home illegally is working towards legalizing his business.

Investigators took two illegal snakes from Richard Parrinello's Shirley home last week.

His attorney says Parrinello is working to relocate more than 850 snakes in preparation to sell them legally from a store instead of his garage.

Parrinello, an animal control officer, is moving them to a storage facility until he can open his own store.

Because of the sheer number of snakes, it may take several weeks to move all of them.

The attorney says moving the reptiles is also difficult because it's the end of their breeding season, when female snakes care for their eggs.

The town of Brookhaven says Parrinello is cooperating, but has four weeks to get the snakes out of his garage.

Authorities removed two 6-foot Burmese pythons from Parrinello's garage earlier this month.

Burmese pythons are illegal to own in New York State without a permit.

Most of Parrinello's snakes are legal, but he's been cited for not having proper permits.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

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