Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies seized 20,000 pounds of illegal fireworks during busts in East Los Angeles, Willowbrook, and Norwalk during the past week, according to the department.

On Monday, deputies seized 4,000 pounds of illegal fireworks worth $10,000 from the front of a produce market in the 700 block of South Kern Ave. in East Los Angeles. Deputies confiscated powerful rockets such as "Devil's Thrill," "Triple Break Magnum Shells," and "Reapers Doom."

Victor Nolasco, 34, was cited and released for possession of illegal fireworks.

On June 27, deputies recovered 8,000 pounds of illegal fireworks worth more than $20,000 at a home in the 1600 block of East 124th Street in the Willowbrook neighborhood of South Los Angeles.

The fireworks recovered consisted of skyrockets, mortars, pyrotechnics, and explosives. Descriptions on the boxes included phrases such as "Warning, Shoots Flaming Balls," and included names such as "Eye Peeler," "Triple Break Magnum Shells," Give Me Attitude," and "King of Pyro."

Deputies arrested the home's resident, 71-year-old Aaron Pigee for possession of an explosive device, selling fireworks without a proper permit, and possession of a loaded unregistered firearm. Deputies also recovered two revolvers, a semi-automatic handgun, a bolt-action rifle, and approximately $10,000 in cash.

At 11:25 a.m. on June 26, deputies seized 8,000 pounds of illegal fireworks worth $20,000 from a public storage locker in the 10900 block of Firestone Boulevard in Norwalk.

A sheriff's Transit Services Bureau explosive detection K-9 alerted his handler to the 20-by-10-foot storage locker. Deputies found 91 cases of illegal fireworks containing mortars, bottle rockets, roman candles, and a variety of other commercial-grade fireworks.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is considering charges against the suspect, who is the registered owner of the public storage unit. No arrests have been made in the case.

By Paul Clinton