Two owners of a pawnshop in New York City, raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into a burglary at the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, were denied bail on Friday. A federal judge deemed it “ironic” to release the men just two days before the Super Bowl.
U.S. District Court Judge William Kuntz wrote that the men, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar, would remain in custody until their trial in August, adding, “They will not be players this weekend.”
The FBI had raided their pawnshop in Manhattan’s Diamond District on Tuesday. This area, which spans a city block, is home to over 2,600 jewelers and is a key hub for diamonds entering the United States.
Prosecutors revealed that a stash of suspected stolen property was discovered at the pawnshop and in storage units in New Jersey owned by Nezhinskiy. They stated that the shop operated as a fencing business, providing a crucial market for stolen goods. This, prosecutors said, incentivized burglary crews to target affluent homes across the country.
Nezhinskiy and Villar have not been directly charged with specific robberies, but prosecutors in New York say phone records link Nezhinskiy to one of the men accused of breaking into Joe Burrow’s home while he was playing a game last year.
The burglars took photos of themselves showing off stolen items, including jewelry, watches, designer luggage, and glasses. One of them even wore necklaces with pendants displaying the number 9 and “JB9,” referencing Burrow’s jersey number.
This burglary was part of a larger pattern of robberies targeting high-profile American athletes. Other victims included NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, both of the Kansas City Chiefs, who are competing for their third consecutive title against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in New Orleans.
Prosecutors claim that the thieves also stole luxury items from the homes of NBA star Luka Dončić, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, and NBA player Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The investigation into these bold burglaries has spanned multiple states and resulted in at least six arrests. However, it’s unclear if there is any connection between the stolen items from these various cases.
Prosecutors revealed that the burglary crews, which were made up of foreign nationals from South America, mainly targeted the homes of athletes while they were away, often during road games with their teams.
Nezhinskiy’s lawyer announced plans to appeal the decision to keep him in jail. Nezhinskiy, a 43-year-old Georgian national living in New Jersey, had previously been granted bail set at $1 million, secured by two family properties in New Jersey, and $150,000 in cash. Nezhinskiy’s family expressed their disappointment over the ruling. “The family is extremely upset with this change of events,” said his attorney, Todd Greenberg. “They expect him to be home to fight this case.”
Villar’s lawyer also indicated they were considering an appeal of his client’s detention.
Lauriano Guzman, the lawyer for one of the defendants, expressed concern over the decision to keep his 48-year-old client, who resides in New York City, in custody. His client had been released just a day earlier after posting $500,000 bail.
The defense lawyers pushed back against the prosecutors’ claim that their clients’ charges were related to violent crimes.
Prosecutors argued that the two defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to charges related to stolen property, had extensive criminal backgrounds, presented a risk to the community, and were likely to flee. They stated in legal filings, “Their actions contribute to the victimization of individuals in their homes and put entire communities at risk.” The prosecutors also emphasized that the defendants’ criminal activities were not isolated incidents but had been happening for years.