Long Island man nabbed for illegal possession of fireworks, assault rifles, handguns

SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A man was arrested on Long Island after police caught him with 15 boxes of fireworks, assault rifles, handguns and other weapons accessories in his home on the Fourth of July, Suffolk County Police said.

Officers executed a search warrant at 22 Pia Boulevard at about 2:40 p.m. on Thursday and found, in the possession of homeowner Christopher Giancola, a large collection of fireworks and weapons.

Giancola, 52, had 15 boxes of fireworks, containing about 100 mortars and two firework cakes, two assault rifles, two handguns, several high capacity feeding devices and bullets in his home.

He was charged with five counts of criminal possession of a weapon, five counts of second-degree criminal contempt, two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of fireworks.

Authorities said that Giancola will be arraigned on July 6 in Central Islip.