Windsor Park man’s arsenal worth six years behind bars: Crown

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This article was published 17/02/2021 (1702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Windsor Park man who had dozens of restricted and prohibited firearms and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition in his home should serve six years in prison, prosecutors argued Tuesday.

Andrew Michel Krywonizka, 42, has pleaded guilty to six weapon-related charges. Another 90-odd charges, including tampering with the serial number of a firearm and possession of body armour without a permit, were stayed by the Crown.

According to an agreed statement of facts provided to court Tuesday, Krywonizka came to the attention of the Canada Border Service Agency in August 2019 after agents intercepted a package that contained a firearm silencer addressed to a post office box connected to his business, Gryphon Energetics, a maker of exploding targets.

In 2002, Krywonizka tried to import high-capacity magazines for an AK-47 and AR15, but they were intercepted by the border service, which warned Krywonizka the items were illegal.

“Based on concerns for public safety and the kinds of devices that Krywonizka had attempted to import in the past,” Winnipeg police secured a warrant “to seize any firearms that may have otherwise been lawfully possessed,” Crown attorney Mike Desautels told court, reading from the agreed statement of facts.

Members of the Winnipeg Police Service’s tactical support team, firearm investigation and enforcement unit and gang unit executed search warrants at Krywonizka’s home, resulting in the seizure of 79 firearms, including several submachine guns and an AK-47 assault rifle.

Among the weapons seized were three prohibited handguns registered to Krywonizka’s father, Michael Krywonizka, a retired city police officer who lived next door.

Other seized weapons included a submachine gun that had been registered by a collector who had reported it as “deactivated,” and firearms that were illegally modified or had their serial numbers removed.

Krywonizka held a valid possession and acquisition licence to buy and possess restricted and non-restricted firearms, but could only possess prohibited weapons if he had inherited them, or through the “grandfather clause,” court heard.

“I have no issue” with the agreed statement of facts, Krywonizka told provincial court Judge Ray Wyant before entering his guilty pleas.

Krywonizka will be sentenced at a later date, at which time a more detailed accounting of the facts will be provided to court. Defence lawyer Richard Wolson told court he will recommend Krywonizka be sentenced to two years less a day and remain under house arrest.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca