One of the two Long Island brothers arrested after authorities found a cache of weapons, drugs and Nazi paraphernalia in their home turned his anger toward reporters as he was led to court Friday.
"You want a Nazi salute?" Edward Perkowski said sarcastically. "Sorry."
Edward and his younger brother Sean were arrested Thursday after authorities said they found bomb-making instructions, drugs, weapons, high-capacity ammunition magazines and $50,000 in cash in a raid on their Mount Sinai home in Suffolk. Nazi paraphernalia was also found in the home, including portraits of Adolf Hitler.
At his arraigment at First District Court in Central Islip Friday, Edward's lawyer denied his client owned the guns and drugs.
"They just kind of pinned it on him," said Matt Tuohy. "There are several people living there and he's saying those items aren't his."
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini had said Thursday, "These are two individuals who subscribe to this ideology and had an arsenal."
Prosecutors made no mention of any planned attacks in court Friday.
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Edward was ordered held on $200,000 bond or $100,000 cash bail and is due back in court June 21. Sean walked free without bail. The only charge against him: an unrelated citation for public urination.
Edward told reporters that the weapons were "legally owned when I had them" and claimed to have run a military surplus business out of his home.
The town of Brookhaven has now condemned the home. A spokesman said there was a foreclosure judgment on the property last year, making it unclear if the Perkowskis were squatting at the home or renting there.
Tuohy said, "There's a lot of strife on that block with the neighbors. I don't know what that plays in this investigation or this case, but there's certainly some bad blood between the neighbors and the Perkowskis."
A neighbor told NBC 4 New York Thursday they were happy the house was condemned "and we can go back to being a peaceful community."
