A Manhattan pawnshop owner has admitted to buying and selling stolen luxury goods, including watches and valuable gems, as part of a nationwide burglary ring that targeted affluent homeowners. Among the victims was Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, whose home was burglarized in December while he was away for a game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Dimitriy Nezhinskiy from New Jersey pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to conspiracy to receive stolen property. Though he acknowledged purchasing stolen luxury items, he claimed ignorance of their origins until after his arrest. Nezhinskiy expressed regret, stating that most of his business was legitimate and profitable. He faces up to five years in prison, with over $2.5 million in fines and seized assets. Originally from Georgia but a legal US resident, he also faces federal charges and possible deportation.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tish condemned the operation, describing it as a deliberate scheme that enabled professional thieves to exploit innocent homeowners. Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar, who operated a Manhattan pawnshop in the Diamond District, pleaded guilty on the same charge. Prosecutors revealed their pawnshop served as a hub for selling stolen goods sourced from an international ring targeting homes of elite athletes nationwide.
Investigations revealed that these theft groups were mainly composed of foreigners from South America, with burglaries often occurring while athletes were on the road. Other prominent victims include NFL star Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, LA Lakers’ Luka Dončić, and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Mike Conley Jr. The multi-state probe resulted in six arrests. Although Nezhinskiy and Villar were not charged with individual burglaries, phone records linked Nezhinskiy to a person involved in the break-in at Burrow’s home.
Authorities recovered a large amount of suspected stolen property from pawnshops and storage units tied to Nezhinskiy in New Jersey. Items included luxury handbags, fine wines, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork, and tools used for robberies, such as power drills and safe-cracking devices. Three men linked to a series of robberies were charged in February in Cincinnati, including Jordanian Francisco Kiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastien Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38.
Fan Take: This case highlights the growing security risks faced by high-profile NFL players off the field, emphasizing the need for increased protective measures. It also serves as a reminder of the underground criminal networks that prey on athletes, which could impact player focus and team dynamics if such threats escalate.
