Earlier today, a federal court in Brooklyn unsealed an indictment charging Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar with conspiracy to receive stolen property. The charges relate to their alleged involvement in purchasing stolen goods that were transported across state lines. Both individuals were arrested today, with Nezhinskiy apprehended in New Jersey and Villar in Manhattan. They are scheduled for arraignment tomorrow before United States Magistrate Judge Lara K. Eshkenazi.
The announcement of the charges was made by John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, along with James E. Dennehy from the FBI's New York Field Office, NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and NCPD Commissioner Patrick J. Ryder.
Durham stated, "As alleged, the defendants created an illicit market and fueled demand for burglaries by South American Theft Groups and other crews around the country by purchasing stolen watches, jewelry and other luxury items, and then re-selling them in their New York City store."
Dennehy added that for nearly five years, Nezhinskiy and Villar allegedly acted as unlawful brokers for stolen luxury items. "With our law enforcement partners," he said, "the FBI will continue to dismantle any criminal activity curated to capitalize on victims’ losses."
NYPD Commissioner Tisch emphasized the city's zero tolerance for crime: "Today’s indictment is the result of our strong work with our law enforcement partners and our commitment to cracking down on these crime rings that threaten our communities."
Ryder thanked federal law enforcement partners: "The men and women of the Nassau County Police Department...work tirelessly to investigate crimes and arrest those who prey upon our citizens."
According to the indictment, between 2020 and 2025, Nezhinskiy and Villar conspired to receive stolen property including jewelry and luxury items transported into New York from outside the state. They allegedly served as fences for burglary crews from South America targeting affluent areas across the U.S.
Evidence reportedly links them to multiple thefts nationwide, including those committed by Bryan Leandro Herrera Maldonado between 2019-2020. Phone records also connect Nezhinskiy to a burglary crew involved in a December 2024 incident in Ohio.
Between October 2022 and January 2024, an undercover detective conducted controlled sales of purportedly stolen goods at their business location in Manhattan's Diamond District.
Today’s search warrant execution at their Manhattan pawn shop resulted in seizures of suspected stolen property such as high-end watches and jewelry along with cash and marijuana. Additional suspected stolen goods were found at storage units belonging to Nezhinskiy in New Jersey.
If convicted of receiving stolen goods, both defendants face up to ten years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Maffei, Katherine P. Onyshko, and Sean M. Sherman.