Illegal fireworks were seized at a West Babylon, Long Island pizzeria and a North Babylon home. The Suffolk District Attorney says two people have been arrested.
DA Thomas Spota says the fireworks are valued at approximately $35,000.
Charged with unlawfully dealing with fireworks are pizza store owner Ahmed Waly, 47, of West Islip, and 31-year-old Christopher Cardinale of North Babylon.
DA detectives executed two search warrants Thursday evening at Margherita Pizza in West Babylon and Cardinale's home. Spota says undercover officers ordered and arranged pickup of illegal fireworks at the pizzeria.
Spota says investigators seized the fireworks as well as $4,300 in cash and order forms from two sheds at Cardinale's home.
The tenant of Cardinale's Silver Street home, George Caravousanos, said he didn't see this coming.
"He's a wonderful guy," Caravousanos said. "They're a great family. I get along well with them, and this is as big a shock to me as anyone else."
At the pizzeria, detectives found cartons of firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, aerial bursts, and "multi-missile packages" stored in a closet approximately five feet from the pizza oven. Spota says an eight-page price and merchandise list also was recovered.
Spota says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 45 percent of the people injured by fireworks are children under the age of 14.
The suspects face misdemeanor charges. Spota says they could be upgraded to felonies.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.