Jennifer Millman

Man Accused of Selling Cocaine Out of Long Island Pizzeria

A 54-year-old Long Island pizzeria worker has been arrested for allegedly selling cocaine out of the shop. 

Placido Buscemi, of Bay Shore, was arrested Tuesday night after authorities executed a search warrant at his home and found "significant amounts of drugs, weapons, cash and other paraphernalia." 

Buscemi allegedly sold the drugs out of Mama Mia Pizzeria on Johnson Avenue in Ronkonkoma.

Nancy Detomasso, whose sister owns the pizza shop, told News 4 Wednesday Buscemi would often say he was going to his car to take a nap but the family had no idea he was allegedly dealing drugs.

"The customers, they all love him. He's a well-known person," she said. "Everyone loves his sense of humor, and I would never think in a million years that he would do something like this."

When police went to arrest Buscemi at his home Tuesday, they found nearly $115,000 in cash, nearly a kilo of cocaine and 200 Oxycodone pills, along with Xanax, marijuana, a loaded AR-15 rifle and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, according to authorities. 

They also found cellphones, digital scales and a money-counting machine. 

Buscemi's stepson, Numba Acosta, was also arrested. He's accused of being an accomplice in the operation. 

It wasn't immediately clear if Buscemi or Acosta had retained an attorney.

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