Latest news with #Nezhinskiy
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Joe Burrow's home got robbed and the pawn shop owner just pleaded guilty
(Photo/Jeff Dean/AP) You think you're safe at home while you're out throwing touchdowns? Not if you're Joe Burrow. Turns out, while the Bengals QB was doing his thing in Dallas last December, a crew of international thieves was breaking into his home and walking off with high-end watches, jewelry, and more. But here's the twist: the loot ended up in a Manhattan pawn shop. And now, the man who bought and sold it all just pled guilty. Yep, a New York City pawn shop owner is at the center of a massive federal case after he was caught fencing stolen luxury goods, many from Burrow's home. It's not just a robbery story. The pawn shop owner admitted he bought stolen luxury goods tied to a national burglary ring Dimitriy Nezhinskiy, 43, just pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to conspiring to receive stolen property and the items in question? High-end luxury watches, designer bags, and jewelry taken from some of the biggest names in sports. According to federal prosecutors, Nezhinskiy knowingly bought these items from an international theft crew, one that specifically targeted pro athletes while they were away playing games. Burrow's home was burglarized while he was in Dallas for a Bengals game in December 2024. And the guy buying his stuff was sitting pretty behind a Manhattan storefront. Nezhinskiy didn't act alone. He and business partner Juan Villar ran the fencing operation out of their pawn shop and New Jersey storage units. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Villar pled guilty earlier in June. This was no random smash-and-grab, it was a slick, international theft operation The burglary of Burrow's home wasn't isolated. Prosecutors say the same crew hit homes belonging to Patrick Mahomes , Travis Kelce , Luka Dončić, and Mike Conley. These weren't amateurs. This was a South American-based criminal ring that timed their robberies to games, using high-tech tools to break into mansions while players were out on the field. The pawn shop duo's role? They provided a black market pipeline for the stolen goods, quickly flipping designer items for profit and laundering the inventory through pawn shop sales and private resellers. When the FBI raided the shop and storage units earlier this year, they recovered a trove of goods: everything from fine wine and luxury watches to handbags and even sports memorabilia. Joe Burrow called the burglary deeply personal and 'unsettling' on Netflix's Quarterback Burrow opened up about the break-in on the Netflix docuseries Quarterback , saying: 'I just get very uncomfortable… Your house is one of those [things].' His tone said it all: this wasn't just about missing items, it was about trust, safety, and the sense of being watched. Nezhinskiy faces up to five years in prison, $2.5 million in restitution, and the forfeiture of assets. He could also be deported, depending on final rulings. His business partner is already awaiting sentencing, and prosecutors say this is just the beginning. Multiple arrests have already been made in the wider burglary ring, and more indictments are expected. The case has put a spotlight on just how vulnerable high-profile athletes are when they travel and how professional these crime rings have become. Also read - Stefon Diggs deletes all Instagram posts amid Cardi B breakup rumors Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Pawnshop owner pleads guilty to fencing Joe Burrow's stolen property
A New York City pawnshop owner has pleaded guilty to buying and selling luxury items stolen by a national burglary crew whose victims include Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, according to the US attorney's office in the eastern district of New York. Burrow was playing an away game last December against the Dallas Cowboys when items were stolen from his home. The pattern of athletes' homes burgled while they were publicly scheduled elsewhere includes Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and NBA stars Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Mike Conley Jnr of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The pawnshop owner, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy, 43, of North Bergen, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property in a Brooklyn federal court. He admitted knowingly purchasing stolen property, including high-end watches, jewellery and handbags. Nezhinskiy, whose sentencing date has not yet been determined, faces a maximum of five years in prison and restitution and forfeiture of more than $2.5m (R44.25m). In addition, because he is from the country of Georgia while legally living in the US, Nezhinskiy faces federal charges and the possibility of deportation, district judge William F Kuntz said. 'This defendant ran a black market pipeline, buying stolen luxury goods from organised theft crews that targeted homes and businesses,' New York City police commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a news release on Friday. 'It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people.' Co-defendant Juan Villar, 48, who co-managed the pawnshop, pleaded guilty in June to the same charge, per Friday's news release. The two men worked together between 2020 and this year, according to the release, as 'fences' to receive and buy stolen goods from outside New York. Villar, of Queens, New York, also is awaiting sentencing. The news release said the South American theft group travelled the US and targeted homes in affluent neighbourhoods as well as jewellery vendors. The investigation involving multiple states has resulted in six arrests. Nezhinskiy and Villar haven't been charged with specific burglaries. Police searched the pawnshop as well as storage units owned by Nezhinskiy in New Jersey and found suspected stolen property including sports memorabilia, artwork and fine wine as well as luxury goods and clothing and 'power tools consistent with those commonly used in burglaries and opening safes'. Three men arrested in a series of burglaries, including the one of Burrow's home, were formally charged in February by a federal grand jury in Cincinnati, according to the US attorney's office for the southern district of Ohio.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
NYC pawn shop owner pleads guilty to fencing Joe Burrow's stolen property
A New York pawn shop owner has admitted to buying and selling luxury items stolen during a nationwide burglary ring, which included those taken last year from the home of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Dimitriy Nezhinskiy, 43, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property — including expensive watches, jewelry and handbags — in a Brooklyn federal court, the Associated Press reported. Burrow was among several high-profile athletes whose houses were targeted and robbed by what have been described by the FBI as South American theft crews. 4 Joe Burrow speaks onstage during Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images The Cincinnati quarterback was playing a road game in Dallas in December when an estimated $300,000 worth of items were taken from his Ohio home. Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and NBA stars Luka Dončić and Mike Conley, were also victimized in the rash of robberies. Three men were arrested and indicted in February by a federal grand jury in Cincinnati, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, for multiple burglaries, including the one of Burrow's home. 4 Joe Burrow looks on before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Getty Images 4 Joe Burrow is pictured during a Bengals practice May 13. AP No sentencing date has been set, but Nezhinskiy faces a maximum of five years in prison and restitution of roughly $2.5 million. The legal New Jersey resident also potentially faces deportation to the country of Georgia, District Judge William F. Kuntz said. 'This defendant ran a black-market pipeline, buying stolen luxury goods from organized theft crews that targeted homes and businesses,' New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Friday in a statement. 'It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people.' 4 Arraignment of Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar at Brooklyn Federal Court. The two are alleged to be running a fencing operation for a South American theft groups in the Manhattan Diamond District. Gabriella Bass Juan Villar, a 48-year-old Queens resident who ran the pawn shop with Nezhinskiy, had previously pleaded guilty in June to the same charge, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. 'For more than five years, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy established a demand for stolen merchandise, which allowed South American Theft Groups to profit from repeated burglaries,' FBI assistant director in charge Christopher Raia said in a statement. 'His purchases perpetuated a ripple of criminality targeting residences and businesses across the country.' Nezhinskiy and Villar have not been charged in connection with the burglaries, but in searches of the pawn shop and storage units owned by Nezhinskiy in New Jersey police found sports memorabilia, artwork and other luxury merchandise suspected to be stolen in the robberies. They also uncovered power tools 'consistent with those commonly used in burglaries and opening safes,' according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. During the current season of the Netflix series 'Quarterback,' Burrow admitted that he recently canceled the purchase of a replica 'Batmobile' following the home invasion. 'I just get very uncomfortable,' Burrow said. 'My life is very public. That comes with the job, but there's certain parts of your life that are yours. Your house is one of those.'
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Pawnbrokers raided in connection with Joe Burrow burglary denied bail days before the Super Bowl
NEW YORK (AP) — Two owners of a New York City pawnshop that was raided by the FBI in connection with an investigation into a burglary at the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow were denied bail Friday, with a federal judge saying it would be 'ironic' to release the men just two days before the Super Bowl. 'No thank you. This is one Super Bowl Defendants will have to watch from the sidelines,' U.S. District Court Judge William Kuntz wrote in his decision ordering Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar held until their August trial date. 'They will not be players this weekend.' FBI agents on Tuesday swept into the men's pawnshop in Manhattan's Diamond District, an area that is a little more than a city block but is home to more than 2,600 jewelers and serves as a conduit for a majority of the diamonds that enter the United States. Prosecutors said a cache of suspected stolen property was found at the pawnshop and storage units in New Jersey belonging to Nezhinskiy. The shop, prosecutors said, served as a fencing operation that provided an 'essential market' for stolen goods that encouraged burglary crews to target wealthy homes around the country. Nezhinskiy and Villar haven't been charged in connection with specific robberies, but prosecutors in New York said phone records link Nezhinskiy to one of the men charged with ransacking Burrow's house while he was playing in a game last year. The men charged in the burglary took photos of themselves flashing some of the spoils, which included jewelry, watches, designer luggage and glasses. One even wore necklaces with pendants showing the number 9 and 'JB9,' Burrow's jersey number. That break-in followed other robberies targeting other big-name American athletes. Among the high-end homes hit by international robbery crews were those of NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, who are vying for their third straight title when they face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in New Orleans. Prosecutors say the thieves also plundered luxury items from the homes of Luka Doncic of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, and Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The investigation into the brazen burglaries has spanned several states and led to at least six arrests, though it's unclear whether there are any links between those thefts. Prosecutors say the crews, consisting of foreign nationals from South America, mostly hit the homes while athletes were out of town, including when competing with their teams on road games. Nezhinskiy's lawyer said he would immediately appeal the decision to jail his 43-year-old client, a Georgian national who lives in New Jersey. A magistrate judge had earlier set bail at $1 million secured by two family properties in New Jersey and $150,000 in cash. 'The family is extremely upset with this change of events,' Todd Greenberg said after the hearing. 'They expect him to be home to fight this case.' Villar's lawyer said he was also considering an appeal. 'It's alarming,' Lauriano Guzman said, noting his 48-year-old client, who lives in New York City, had been released less than 24 hours earlier after having posted $500,000 bail. The lawyers had pushed back at the suggestion from prosecutors that the crimes their clients were charged with were violent. Prosecutors argued the two, who have pleaded not guilty to stolen property charges, had lengthy criminal records, posed a danger to the community and were flight risks. 'Their conduct promotes the victimizing of individuals in their homes and endangering communities on a large scale,' prosecutors wrote in legal filings. 'This conduct was not isolated, instead, it has been ongoing for years.' ___ Follow Philip Marcelo at Philip Marcelo, The Associated Press
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Pawnbrokers raided in connection with Joe Burrow burglary denied bail days before the Super Bowl
NEW YORK (AP) — Two owners of a New York City pawnshop that was raided by the FBI in connection with an investigation into a burglary at the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow were denied bail Friday, with a federal judge saying it would be 'ironic' to release the men just two days before the Super Bowl. 'No thank you,' said U.S. District Court Judge William Kuntz as he ordered Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar held until their August trial date. 'This is one Super Bowl they'll have to sit on the sidelines for.' FBI agents on Tuesday swept into the men's pawnshop in Manhattan's Diamond District, an area that is a little more than a city block but is home to more than 2,600 jewelers and serves as a conduit for a majority of the diamonds that enter the United States. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Prosecutors said a cache of suspected stolen property was found at the pawnshop and storage units in New Jersey belonging to Nezhinskiy. The shop, prosecutors said, served as a fencing operation that provided an 'essential market' for stolen goods that encouraged burglary crews to target wealthy homes around the country. Nezhinskiy and Villar haven't been charged in connection with specific robberies, but prosecutors in New York said phone records link Nezhinskiy to one of the men charged with ransacking Burrow's house while he was playing in a game last year. The men charged in the burglary took photos of themselves flashing some of the spoils, which included jewelry, watches, designer luggage and glasses. One even wore necklaces with pendants showing the number 9 and 'JB9,' Burrow's jersey number. That break-in followed other robberies targeting other big-name American athletes. Among the high-end homes hit by international robbery crews were those of NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, who are vying for their third straight title when they face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in New Orleans. Prosecutors say the thieves also plundered luxury items from the homes of Luka Doncic of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, and Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The investigation into the brazen burglaries has spanned several states and led to at least six arrests, though it's unclear whether there are any links between those thefts. Prosecutors say the crews, consisting of foreign nationals from South America, mostly hit the homes while athletes were out of town, including when competing with their teams on road games. Nezhinskiy's lawyer said he would immediately appeal the decision to jail his 43-year-old client, a Georgian national who lives in New Jersey. A magistrate judge had earlier set bail at $1 million secured by two family properties in New Jersey and $150,000 in cash. 'The family is extremely upset with this change of events,' Todd Greenberg said after the hearing. 'They expect him to be home to fight this case.' Villar's lawyer said he was also considering an appeal. 'It's alarming,' Lauriano Guzman said, noting his 48-year-old client, who lives in New York City, had been released less than 24 hours earlier after having posted $500,000 bail. The lawyers had pushed back at the suggestion from prosecutors that the crimes their clients were charged with were violent. Prosecutors argued the two, who have pleaded not guilty to stolen property charges, had lengthy criminal records, posed a danger to the community and were flight risks. 'Their conduct promotes the victimizing of individuals in their homes and endangering communities on a large scale,' prosecutors wrote in legal filings. 'This conduct was not isolated, instead, it has been ongoing for years.' ___ Follow Philip Marcelo at
