Latest news with #pawnshop
New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
Manhattan pawn shop owner pleads guilty to role in burglary at Joe Burrow's home, others
The owner of a Manhattan pawn shop pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to receive stolen property transported in interstate commerce, which includes a link to the burglary of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York. Advertisement The man, 43-year-old Dimitriy Nezhinskiy, admitted knowingly purchasing stolen watches, jewelry and other high-end goods to resell them in his pawn shop. The proceeding, held before District Judge William F. Kuntz, concluded with Nezhinskiy's facing a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment as well as restitution of about $2.5 million and forfeiture of more than that threshold. His sentencing date has not yet been determined. Nezhinskiy, from the country of Georgia, who legally resides in the U.S., faces federal charges and possible deportation, Kuntz noted. 'The defendant's criminal conduct, purchasing items stolen from homes and businesses nationwide, provided a vital market for South American Theft Groups and other criminals to sell the proceeds of their crimes,' U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said. 'Our office and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to ensuring that those who facilitate the victimization of people and businesses are brought to justice.' Nezhinskiy's actions span about five years, between 2020 and 2025, when he worked in tandem with his co-defendant, Juan Villar, a 48-year-old who co-managed the store and June 16 pleaded guilty to the same charge, according to the release, which also said the two worked with others to receive and purchase stolen property, including jewelry, watches, handbags and assorted luxury items that had been stolen outside of the state of New York and transported into New York. Nezhinskiy and Villar regularly served as 'fences' for South American Theft Groups, burglary crews based out of South America, who traveled around the United States committing burglaries, typically targeting wealthier neighborhoods or jewelry vendors, and stealing luxury accessories such as watches, jewelry and handbags, according to the release. Evidence linked Nezhinskiy and Villar to thefts around the country, including at least two dozen residential or commercial burglaries across the U.S. between 2019 and 2025, one of those being Burrow's home. Burrow was a victim of a home burglary in December while playing an away game against the Dallas Cowboys. No one was injured, but police couldn't immediately determine which items were stolen from the home. The break-in came two months after Kansas City Chiefs stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes' homes were burglarized. Advertisement Between October 2022 and January 2024, an undercover detective conducted seven controlled sales of purported stolen property, including high-end handbags and luxury accessories, to Nezhinskiy or Villar, or both, at their Manhattan Diamond District business, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. During the transactions, the undercover detective provided the two defendants with items that the undercover told the defendants had been stolen, and received cash in exchange for the stolen goods. Police also found luxury goods and clothing, not limited to jewelry, high-end handbags and sports memorabilia, in their search of storage units owned by Nezhinskiy in New Jersey. 'This defendant ran a black-market pipeline, buying stolen luxury goods from organized theft crews that targeted homes and businesses,' said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. 'It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people.' Three others were arrested in connection with the burglaries involving Burrow's home and were indicted by a federal grand jury in Cincinnati in February, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
NYC pawn shop owner pleads guilty after serving as fence for Joe Burrow home robbery
A pawn shop owner in New York City pleaded guilty to serving as a fence for luxury goods stolen from people's homes. Per the Associated Press, that includes the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Dimitriy Nezhinskiy pleaded on a federal charge of conspiring to receive stolen property that had been transported in interstate commerce. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, plus restitution of approximately $2,500,000, and forfeiture of more than $2,500,000. Per the AP, he said in court that his business was mostly legal: 'I am very sorry for my actions,' the 44-year-old New Jersey resident said in Brooklyn federal court. 'Most of my business was completely legitimate, and it was a good business.' Burrow's house was burglarized last December while he was leading the Bengals in a win over the Dallas Cowboys on "Monday Night Football," part of a string of burglaries involving the homes of professional athletes. A group of seven Chilean nationals were later arrested and charged for the theft. The experience left Burrow unwilling to go through with the purchase of a Batmobile. He also has pondered moving houses, citing a breach in privacy. Authorities accused Nezhinskiy and his co-defendant Juan Villar of knowingly purchasing stolen property, which included jewelry, watches, handbags, and assorted luxury items from outside the state of New York, acquired from burglary crews traveling around the U.S. and targeting the homes of the wealthy. An undercover detective reportedly conducted seven controlled sales of purported stolen property to Nezhinskiy or Villar at their shop, explicitly telling them they were stolen before executing the sale. A raid at the pawn shop and Nezhinskiy's storage units also yielded large quantities of suspected stolen property, including high-end handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork, and power tools, the latter of which could be used in burglaries. From the DOJ: 'This defendant ran a black-market pipeline, buying stolen luxury goods from organized theft crews that targeted homes and businesses,' said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. 'It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people. Today's guilty plea sends a clear message: If you profit off stolen property, we will find you and dismantle your operation. I want to thank our detectives and federal partners for their work on this case.' Villar reportedly pleaded guilty in June to conspiring to receive stolen property that had been transported in interstate commerce.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
NYC pawn shop owner pleads guilty after serving as fence for Joe Burrow home robbery
A pawn shop owner in New York City pleaded guilty to serving as a fence for luxury goods stolen from people's homes. Per the Associated Press, that includes the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Dimitriy Nezhinskiy pleaded on a federal charge of conspiring to receive stolen property that had been transported in interstate commerce. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, plus restitution of approximately $2,500,000, and forfeiture of more than $2,500,000. Per the AP, he said in court that his business was mostly legal: 'I am very sorry for my actions,' the 44-year-old New Jersey resident said in Brooklyn federal court. 'Most of my business was completely legitimate, and it was a good business.' Burrow's house was burglarized last December while he was leading the Bengals in a win over the Dallas Cowboys on "Monday Night Football," part of a string of burglaries involving the homes of professional athletes. A group of seven Chilean nationals were later arrested and charged for the theft. The experience left Burrow unwilling to go through with the purchase of a Batmobile. He also has pondered moving houses, citing a breach in privacy. Authorities accused Nezhinskiy and his co-defendant Juan Villar of knowingly purchasing stolen property, which included jewelry, watches, handbags, and assorted luxury items from outside the state of New York, acquired from burglary crews traveling around the U.S. and targeting the homes of the wealthy. An undercover detective reportedly conducted seven controlled sales of purported stolen property to Nezhinskiy or Villar at their shop, explicitly telling them they were stolen before executing the sale. A raid at the pawn shop and Nezhinskiy's storage units also yielded large quantities of suspected stolen property, including high-end handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork, and power tools, the latter of which could be used in burglaries. From the DOJ: 'This defendant ran a black-market pipeline, buying stolen luxury goods from organized theft crews that targeted homes and businesses,' said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. 'It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people. Today's guilty plea sends a clear message: If you profit off stolen property, we will find you and dismantle your operation. I want to thank our detectives and federal partners for their work on this case.' Villar reportedly pleaded guilty in June to conspiring to receive stolen property that had been transported in interstate commerce.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
NYC pawn shop owner pleads guilty to his role in burglary of NFL star Joe Burrow's home and others
A Manhattan pawn shop owner pleaded guilty Friday to serving as a fence for luxury items stolen from wealthy residences across the country, including a brazen burglary at the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow while he was playing an away game last year. Dimitriy Nezhinskiy admitted to knowingly purchasing stolen watches, jewelry and other high-end goods in order to re-sell them in his pawn shop. But he maintained that he did not know they had been taken from people's homes until after his arrest. "I am very sorry for my actions," the 44-year-old New Jersey resident said in Brooklyn federal court. "Most of my business was completely legitimate, and it was a good business." Nezhinskiy pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to receive stolen property. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison as well as restitution of about $2.5 million and forfeiture of more than $2.5 million. He'll be sentenced at a later date. "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 in a statement. "It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people." Nezhinskiy, who was born in the nation of Georgia but has legal status in the U.S., could also face deportation, U.S. District Court Judge William Kuntz noted. Juan Villar, a New York resident who ran the pawn shop with Nezhinskiy, pleaded guilty to the same charge last month and will be sentenced in December. Prosecutors said the shop in Manhattan's famed Diamond District fenced stolen goods for international burglary crews that targeted homes of prominent athletes around the country. They say Nezhinskiy and Villar had been purchasing items from various crews and re-selling them from 2020 until the FBI raided the storefront and arrested them in February. The crews, many consisting of foreign nationals from South America, mostly hit homes while athletes were out of town, including while playing in road games, prosecutors have said. Targets also included the homes of NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, Luka Doncic of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The investigation spanned several states and led to at least six arrests. Nezhinskiy and Villar weren't charged in connection with specific robberies, but prosecutors said phone records link Nezhinskiy to one of the men charged with ransacking Burrow's house. Prosecutors also say a large amount of suspected stolen property was found at the two men's business and at storage units in New Jersey belonging to Nezhinskiy, including luxury handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork and power tools commonly used for burglaries and opening safes. The break-in at Burrow's home happened on Dec. 9, 2024 while the Bengals were playing in Dallas. Police said a person arrived at the Anderson Township home to find a shattered bedroom window and the home ransacked. The person called her mother, who notified authorities, and was later revealed to be Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Olivia Ponton, not Burrow's previous girlfriend. "I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one," Burrow said afterward. "Way more is out there than I would want out there and that I care to share." Police said they apprehended those burglars the following month after finding them in an SUV with a Louisiana State University shirt and a Cincinnati Bengals hat believed to be stolen from Burrow's home. Burrow played college football at LSU. Police also found photos the robbers took of themselves flashing some of the other spoils — jewelry, watches, designer luggage and glasses. One even wore necklaces with pendants showing "JB9" and the number 9 — Burrow's jersey number.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Associated Press
NYC pawn shop owner pleads guilty to his role in burglary of NFL star Joe Burrow's home and others
NEW YORK (AP) — A Manhattan pawn shop owner pleaded guilty Friday to serving as a fence for luxury items stolen from wealthy residences across the country, including a brazen burglary at the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow while he was playing an away game last year. Dimitriy Nezhinskiy admitted to knowingly purchasing stolen watches, jewelry and other high-end goods in order to re-sell them in his pawn shop. But he maintained that he did not know they had been taken from people's homes until after his arrest. 'I am very sorry for my actions,' the 44-year-old New Jersey resident said in Brooklyn federal court. 'Most of my business was completely legitimate, and it was a good business.' Nezhinskiy pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to receive stolen property. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison as well as restitution of about $2.5 million and forfeiture of more than $2.5 million. He'll be sentenced at a later date. '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 in a statement. 'It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people.' Nezhinskiy, who was born in the nation of Georgia but has legal status in the U.S., could also face deportation, U.S. District Court Judge William Kuntz noted. Juan Villar, a New York resident who ran the pawn shop with Nezhinskiy, pleaded guilty to the same charge last month and will be sentenced in December. Prosecutors said the shop in Manhattan's famed Diamond District fenced stolen goods for international burglary crews that targeted homes of prominent athletes around the country. They say Nezhinskiy and Villar had been purchasing items from various crews and re-selling them from 2020 until the FBI raided the storefront and arrested them in February. The crews, many consisting of foreign nationals from South America, mostly hit homes while athletes were out of town, including while playing in road games, prosecutors have said. Targets also included the homes of NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, Luka Doncic of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The investigation spanned several states and led to at least six arrests. Nezhinskiy and Villar weren't charged in connection with specific robberies, but prosecutors said phone records link Nezhinskiy to one of the men charged with ransacking Burrow's house. Prosecutors also say a large amount of suspected stolen property was found at the two men's business and at storage units in New Jersey belonging to Nezhinskiy, including luxury handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork and power tools commonly used for burglaries and opening safes. The break-in at Burrow's home happened on Dec. 9, 2024 while the Bengals were playing in Dallas. Police said a person arrived at the Anderson Township home to find a shattered bedroom window and the home ransacked. The person called her mother, who notified authorities, and was later revealed to be Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Olivia Ponton, not Burrow's previous girlfriend. 'I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one,' Burrow said afterward. 'Way more is out there than I would want out there and that I care to share.' Police said they apprehended those burglars the following month after finding them in an SUV with a Louisiana State University shirt and a Cincinnati Bengals hat believed to be stolen from Burrow's home. Burrow played college football at LSU. Police also found photos the robbers took of themselves flashing some of the other spoils — jewelry, watches, designer luggage and glasses. One even wore necklaces with pendants showing 'JB9' and the number 9 — Burrow's jersey number. ___ Follow Philip Marcelo at
