Two Men Plead Not Guilty In Connection To High-Profile Burglary Ring In New York’s Diamond District

 Two men accused of conspiring to receive stolen goods in connection with a series of burglaries, including one allegedly targeting NFL star Joe Burrow’s home, pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday.

The suspects, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar, are charged with running an illicit operation that involved purchasing stolen luxury items such as jewelry, watches, and handbags from organized theft groups and reselling them in New York City. Their indictment was unsealed in the Eastern District of New York following their arrests on Tuesday.

FBI Raids and Seizures

Law enforcement officials raided a pawn shop in Manhattan’s Diamond District and a storage unit in New Jersey, recovering an extensive collection of allegedly stolen goods. Authorities say they confiscated jewelry, handbags, luxury clothing, and more than 100 high-end watches, estimating the total value of the stolen property could reach $5 million.

Nezhinskiy and Villar were indicted on one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property. Nezhinskiy faces three additional counts of receiving stolen property, while Villar faces one.

"As alleged, the defendants created an illicit market and fueled demand for burglaries by purchasing stolen watches, jewelry, and other luxury items, then reselling them in their New York City store," said U.S. Attorney John J. Durham.

Links to High-Profile Burglaries

Federal investigators believe Nezhinskiy was in contact with members of a burglary crew suspected of robbing a high-profile athlete’s home in Ohio on December 9, 2024. That same day, reports indicate Joe Burrow’s residence in Anderson Township, Ohio, was burglarized while the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback was playing an away game in Texas.

Authorities have warned professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, and NHL that they are being specifically targeted by international burglary rings. In recent months, homes belonging to Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, as well as NBA players Luka Doncic, Mike Conley Jr., and Bobby Portis, have been burglarized.

“These homes are targeted due to the perception that they contain high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches, and cash,” the FBI stated in a December 20 bulletin sent to U.S. professional sports associations.

Four Chilean nationals were previously arrested in connection with multimillion-dollar home burglaries, including one that took place on the same date Burrow’s home was burglarized. However, the police report did not specifically mention Burrow.

Accused of Running a “Fencing” Operation

Nezhinskiy and Villar are accused of operating a “fencing” scheme—knowingly purchasing stolen goods to resell for profit. Authorities say their pawn shop on Manhattan’s 47th Street was raided, leading to the seizure of numerous high-value items, large sums of cash, and marijuana.

Additionally, searches of Nezhinskiy’s storage units uncovered luxury handbags, artwork, wine, sports memorabilia, and power tools commonly used for breaking into safes, according to investigators.

Prosecutors claim that between 2020 and 2025, Nezhinskiy and Villar regularly served as fences for South American burglary crews that targeted wealthy neighborhoods and jewelry vendors.

Undercover Investigation and Firearm Discovery

An undercover detective reportedly conducted seven controlled sales of stolen goods to Nezhinskiy and Villar between October 2022 and January 2024, each time exchanging stolen property for cash.

Investigators also found a firearm in the New Jersey storage unit linked to the suspects. Prosecutors noted that both men have prior felony convictions, which would prohibit them from legally possessing a firearm. However, neither Nezhinskiy nor Villar has been charged in connection to the weapon, and their attorneys deny any knowledge of it.

If convicted, both men face up to 10 years in prison.

Bail and Detention Hearing

At Wednesday’s court appearance, prosecutors argued that Nezhinskiy and Villar should remain in custody before trial, citing them as flight risks and threats to public safety.

Magistrate Judge Lara Eshkenazi ruled that Nezhinskiy could be released under home detention on a $1 million bond, secured by liens on his father’s New Jersey properties. Villar’s proposed $250,000 bail was deemed too low given the scope of the alleged crimes. His attorney has been given until Thursday to submit a revised bail package for consideration.

Court documents reveal that Nezhinskiy, 43, is a Georgian national who has been subject to a final order of deportation since 2003 but remains in the U.S. due to legal restrictions. His prior convictions include disorderly conduct, larceny, and robbery.

Villar, 48, is a U.S. citizen from Queens with a prior conviction for assault linked to a burglary.

A preliminary trial date has not yet been set.