Man With ‘SSSSNAKE’ License Plate Had 850 Snakes in His House

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

It makes a lot of sense, actually: If you want to hoard and illegally sell hundreds of reptiles just work as your town's animal control officer. Richard Parinello of Brookhaven, Long Island, was busted today for keeping 850 snakes, including two six-foot Burmese pythons, in his home and two-car garage. (He may have also been committing disability fraud, opting to work for himself instead, but that's less interesting.) Parinello's two trucks had vanity plates reading "SSSSNAKE" and "SNAKEVAN," in case anyone doubted his passion.