Sleight of hand from wise guys and leading criminal (4)

I believe the answer is:

magi

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'sleight of hand from wise guys' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for magi that I've seen before include "The sages who visited Jesus and Mary and Joseph shortly after Jesus was born" , "Three Wise Men from the East" , "Biblical wise men" , "Wise men, visitors to Bethlehem" , "Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).

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