A Smithtown man could face life behind bars after being arrested in a heroin bust this week.

Anthony Salerno, 25, was allegedly caught in the middle of a drug deal in Islandia Tuesday. After searching his home, authorities say they found a stockpile of drugs worth a small fortune on the street.

Salerno is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Authorities say they confiscated pounds of drugs and a couch full of cash from Salerno's home. They call Salerno a major Long Island drug dealer.

"We're hoping that we put a dent in an activity," says Detective Lt. Robert Edwards. "I look at heroin as a drug that makes slaves of children ? and it's a really horrible drug and anything we can do to prevent this from happening, we're going to do."