A young man who kept a sub-machine gun in a pink gym bag and a loaded handgun in a Louis Vuitton satchel in suburban Melbourne has been jailed for a year.
But because Luke Debono has already served seven months, he'll be out of jail and on a two-year corrections order in less than six months.
Police found a submachinegun and ice in Luke Debono's unit. Photo: Facebook The 21-year-old from Sunbury was involved with a now-dismantled crime syndicate involving a former Victorian policeman.
On Tuesday, the Melbourne County Court heard police were looking for Mr Debono to question him over an unrelated shooting in Maidstone in 2015.
The court heard that Luke Debono has strong family support, went to rehab and worked full-time as a concreter with his dad when he was bailed. Photo: Facebook He was also being investigated over his connection to a drug syndicate, allegedly headed by Jarrod Hennig and in which a former policeman, David Lister, had been a member.
Two men alleged to be the syndicate's suppliers were also recently arrested and charged after the investigation, escalated to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, was widened.
North West Regional Crime Squad detectives had traced Mr Debono to a unit in Socrates Way, Rockbank, which belonged to associate Troy Rainczuk in January this year.
He fled when police tried to arrest him, but later handed himself in.
Luke Debono will be out of jail and on a two-year corrections order in less than six months. Photo: Facebook A search of the unit found almost 290 grams of largely pure ice in the house, as well as a 9mm military-grade sub-machine gun with ammunition in a Nike gym bag in a bedroom and two loaded handguns in a Holden Calais outside, including a .32 in a Louis Vuitton satchel on the front seat.
The Theureon sub-machine gun is capable of firing hundreds of rounds a minute and can penetrate walls and car doors.
Prosecutor Stephen Ballek said Mr Debono's DNA was found on the three guns and two bags of ice. CCTV also captured the men carrying the bags containing the guns inside.
He was charged and pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, possessing three guns and ammunition and almost $50,000 in cash being proceeds of crime.
He was originally facing a gun trafficking offence and was thought to be one of the first in the state to face the new law, but the charge was dropped during negotiations.
Mr Rainczuk, who pleaded guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and possessing a shotgun, was sentenced to 70 days in jail and a corrections order in September after he significantly co-operated with police, the court heard.
Mr Debono's lawyer Daniel Gurvich QC said his client pleaded guilty at an early stage, has strong family support, went to rehab and worked full-time as a concreter with his dad when he was bailed.
He was supported in court by his parents and step-mother, who is a lawyer.
"All-in-all, it is submitted his prospects are good, if not very good," Mr Gurvich said.
Judge Gavan Meredith said the possession of the guns, particularly a submachine gun, called for a jail term despite his rehabilitation prospects.
"Your possession of the various firearms ... causes me considerable concern," he said.
Judge Meredith said if it wasn't for Mr Debono's guilty plea, he would have jailed him for at least two years.
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