MONTREAL - Montreal businessman Tony Magi surprised the courtroom when he pleaded guilty Tuesday to a weapons charge.
After Magi made a $5,000 donation to a crime-victims charity fund, the prosecution agreed to an unconditional discharge, meaning Magi will not have a criminal record.
The charges against Magi stem from a registered .45 calibre handgun found by police in a night table in Magi's Notre-Dame-de-Grace home.
The licenced firearm was found in a locked box in his home, but was improperly stored because it did not have a trigger lock.
Montreal police raided the home, as well as the offices of FTM Construction on Upper Lachine Rd., a construction firm for which Magi serves as president, along with several other locations in west-end Montreal and in the Outaouais town of Montebello, 130 kilometres west of Montreal.
At the time, police seized two dozen firearms along with Magi's heavily armoured car, and arrested several people for weapons charges.
Magi was fighting the case because as a businessman who travels extensively, he argued that having a criminal record would affect his livelihood.
Magi has dubious ties
Police have been keeping a close eye on Magi for several years because they suspect he has ties to the Mafia.
In 2008 Magi survived a brazen assassination attempt while driving in NDG, and earlier this year a gunman attacking his wife as she drove away from her home.
Police have raided FTM Construction on several occasions, and in March 2010 police arrested gang leader Ducarme Joseph as he left Magi's offices.
In 2009 Magi's former business partner Nick Rizzuto Jr., the son of jailed mob boss Vito Rizzuto, was assassinated outside the offices of FTM Construction.
