Mag Pleads Guilty in Campaign Donation Case

As part of an agreement with the U.S. attorney’s office, flashlight maker Mag Instrument Inc., pleaded guilty to two counts of making illegal campaign contributions by using employees to improperly funnel a combined $61,000 to two 1992 congressional candidates. The Ontario-based company also agreed to pay a combined maximum penalty of $400,250 stemming from unlawful contributions to the campaigns of then-Rep. Charles Wilson (D-Texas) and then-Rep. Wayne Owens (D-Utah), who at the time was running for U.S. Senate. The five-page agreement states that Mag President Anthony Maglica and then-Executive Vice President Claire Halasz each gave $1,000 to each campaign--the maximum individual donation allowed by law. The pair then agreed to reimburse employees who made similar contributions in their own names. Maglica and Halasz, who is no longer with the company, could not be reached for comment. The U.S. attorney’s office agreed to end any further prosecution of Mag or its officers relating to the contributions.