On July 25th, 2025, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy pleaded guilty to fencing luxury items that were stolen during home invasions across the country. The suspect owned a pawn shop in Manhattan and would regularly receive an influx of luxury items, like watches and jewelry, from thieves with whom he was working. Nezhinskiy admitted that he knew the items he was selling at the shop were stolen, but he alleged that he wasn’t aware they were taken from people’s homes.

The 44-year-old pawn shop owner took accountability for his misdeeds and told the court that “most” of his business dealings were legitimate. He further stated that his pawn shop is a good business.

That said, Nezhinskiy admitted that he had been purchasing the stolen items from crews and reselling them since around 2020. The pawn shop owner was finally caught when the FBI began investigating a string of burglaries that were targeting prominent athletes. One of the most publicized of these burglaries targeted Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow while he was away from his home playing in a football game.

While investigating, the FBI discovered photos the robbers took that showed some of them wearing necklaces and other jewelry with “JB9” (Burrow’s jersey number) on them.

Less than a week before this crime, Nezhinskiy was in direct contact with the crew that struck the house.

Nezhinskiy was charged with conspiracy to receive stolen property. If convicted, then he could potentially face a maximum sentence of up to five years in federal prison. This charge could also potentially result in court-ordered restitution of up to $2.5 million and a forfeiture of more than $2.5 million. What’s more, Nezhinskiy is currently legally residing in the U.S., but he was born in the nation of Georgia. If convicted, then he could face complete deportation from the country.

Juan Villar, Nezhinskiy’s pawn shop partner and resident of New York, has also been arrested for his role in the scheme.

Villar also decided to plead guilty to all charges. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December. At least four other individuals have also been arrested for participating in the burglaries.

The crews that have been targeting the homes of athletes and other famous celebrities are mostly comprised of foreign nationals, according to the FBI. The majority of these individuals came from South America and intentionally targeted athletes who were known to be out of town, like Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.

Conspiring to Receive Stolen Property in Brooklyn

In Brooklyn, the penalties you could face for conspiring to receive stolen property vary based on the overall value of the stolen property, the level of the conspiracy charge, and other factors like the evidence prosecutors have against you.

If you’re facing legal charges related to burglary or conspiring to receive stolen property in or around Brooklyn, then it’s important to leverage your rights and hire a lawyer.

Contact our team of experienced criminal defense attorneys now to schedule a free case evaluation by leaving your contact details on our online form.