SHIRLEY, NEW YORK – An animal-control officer had hundreds of snakes, including a pair of 2-meter Burmese pythons, at his home, from which he ran an illegal side business selling them, authorities said Thursday.

Some 850 snakes worth $500,000 were found in a detached garage at the Shirley home of Richard Parrinello, including the potentially lethal Burmese pythons, which are illegal in the state, officials said.

Parrinello has worked on and off as an animal-control officer for Brookhaven since 1988, town spokesman Jack Krieger said.

Authorities spotted the snakes during an investigation into whether Parrinello was working while on disability leave from his municipal job.