NEW YORK — A federal judge has denied bail to two pawnshop owners after their establishment was raided by the FBI as part of an investigation related to a burglary involving Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. U.S. District Court Judge William Kuntz remarked that it would be “ironic” to allow the defendants to be released just ahead of the Super Bowl, emphasizing that they will be watching the event from the sidelines.
Judge Kuntz made it clear that Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar would remain in custody until their trial scheduled for August, stating, “They will not be players this weekend.”
The FBI conducted the raid at the pawnshop located in the Diamond District of Manhattan earlier this week. This particular area, which spans slightly over a city block, is known for hosting more than 2,600 jewelers and serves as a primary entry point for diamonds into the United States.
Prosecutors disclosed that a collection of suspected stolen items was uncovered during the raid, found both in the pawnshop and in storage units owned by Nezhinskiy in New Jersey. Authorities allege that the pawnshop functioned as a fencing operation, creating an “essential market” for stolen goods and incentivizing burglary crews to target affluent residences across the nation.
Although no direct charges related to specific burglaries have been filed against Nezhinskiy and Villar, prosecutors indicated that phone records connect Nezhinskiy to one of the individuals accused of burglarizing Burrow’s home while he participated in a game last year.
The alleged burglars took selfies flaunting some of their stolen loot, which included various luxury items such as jewelry, watches, and designer luggage. Notably, some even wore necklaces displaying Burrow’s jersey number, 9, with the initials “JB9.”
This incident is part of a broader pattern of burglaries targeting prominent American athletes. Previous victims included NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his teammate Travis Kelce, who are currently challenging for their third consecutive title against the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
Items have also been reportedly stolen from the luxury homes of the NBA’s Luka Doncic and Mike Conley Jr. from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The ongoing investigation has unfolded across multiple states and has culminated in at least six arrests, though the connections among the various thefts remain unclear. Prosecutors noted that many of the burglaries were executed while the athletes were away, particularly during road games.
Nezhinskiy’s attorney expressed intentions to appeal the judge’s decision to detain his client, a 43-year-old Georgian national residing in New Jersey. Earlier, a magistrate judge had set a bail amount of $1 million, supported by two family properties and $150,000 in cash.
The attorney shared that Nezhinskiy’s family was distressed by the new developments. “They expect him to be home to fight this case,” remarked Todd Greenberg after the hearing.
Meanwhile, Villar’s legal representative indicated similar intentions to contest the ruling. Lauriano Guzman pointed out that Villar, a 48-year-old resident of New York City, had only recently been granted release on a $500,000 bail.
The attorneys argued against prosecution claims that their clients were involved in violent crimes. However, prosecutors countered that both men, who pleaded not guilty to the stolen property allegations, have extensive criminal histories, pose a risk to the community, and could flee.
Prosecutors asserted that “Their conduct promotes the victimizing of individuals in their homes and endangering communities on a large scale,” adding that this behavior has been persistent for years.
