Hundreds of snakes found at man's US home AN animal control officer has been busted with hundreds of snakes, including two 1.8 metre Burmese pythons, at his home, where he ran an illegal side business selling them. Authorities found 850 snakes worth half a million US dollars in a garage at the home of Richard Parrinello. The stash of reptiles included the Burmese pythons. "There is a reason why Burmese pythons are illegal," said SPCA official Roy Gross, citing the deaths of two young boys in Canada killed by an African rock python while they slept last month. Gross said Burmese pythons can grow to nine metres and are "an accident waiting to happen." Parrinello has worked on and off as an animal-control officer since 1988. Authorities spotted the snakes during a weeks-long investigation into whether he was working while on disability leave from his town job. Investigators caught Parrinello on camera claiming he had $US500,000 ($A532,565) in inventory, including turtles and turtle eggs. Parrinello faces multiple charges of owning the pythons and violating town codes by running a business at his home without a permit. Gross said the pythons were headed to an animal sanctuary in Massachusetts. It's unclear what's to be done with the other snakes.