NYC Jewelers Accused of Operating Fencing Location in Diamond District

Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar with conspiracy to receive stolen property related to their purchasing of stolen goods that traveled across state lines. The defendants were arrested today, Nezhinskiy in New Jersey and Villar in Manhattan. They will be arraigned tomorrow before United States Magistrate Judge Lara K. Eshkenazi.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) announced the charges.

“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,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “My Office will continue to pursue organized groups who engage, enable, or encourage the pillaging of residential homes and businesses that has a corrosive effect on the sense of security in our communities.”

“For almost five years, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar allegedly served as unlawful brokers to perpetuate the sale of stolen luxury items by purchasing them from burglary crews. The defendants’ alleged actions incentivized highly organized South American Theft Groups to continue their meticulous looting scheme against a myriad of affluent residences and businesses across the country. With our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to dismantle any criminal activity curated to capitalize on victims’ losses and establish an economic demand for ill-obtained merchandise within our city,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.

“We will not tolerate crime of any kind in New York, whether it be street crime, retail theft, or these organized operations that target residential homes to steal and resell luxury goods,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “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.”

“We want to thank our partners in federal law enforcement for this collaborative effort to bring this criminal to justice,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder. “The men and women of the Nassau County Police Department, particularly the dedicated Detectives of the Major Case Squad, work tirelessly to investigate crimes and arrest those who prey upon our citizens.”

As alleged in the indictment, between approximately 2020 and 2025, the defendants conspired with each another and others to receive and purchase stolen property, including jewelry, watches, handbags and assorted luxury items that had been stolen outside of the state of New York and transported into New York. As detailed in court filings, Nezhinskiy and Villar regularly served as “fences” for burglary crews based out of South America who traveled around the United States committing burglaries, typically targeting wealthier neighborhoods or jewelry vendors, and stealing luxury accessories. Nezhinskiy and Villar’s operation provided an essential market for the stolen goods, perpetuating the dangerous criminal activities of the burglary and theft crews composed largely of foreign nationals.

For example, evidence links Nezhinskiy and Villar to thefts around the country, including crimes committed by Bryan Leandro Herrera Maldonado, a prolific burglar who committed at least 16 residential burglaries across the United States between 2019 and 2020. Additionally, phone records and video surveillance links Nezhinskiy to at least two members of a four-man burglary crew believed to be involved in the December 9, 2024 burglary of a high-profile athlete in Ohio, and showed Nezhinskiy in contact with that crew less than one week before the burglary in Ohio.

In addition, between October 2022 and January 2024, an undercover detective conducted seven controlled sales of purported stolen property, including high-end handbags and luxury accessories, to Nezhinskiy or Villar, or both, at their business location in Manhattan’s Diamond District. During these controlled sales, the undercover detective provided the defendants with items that the undercover told the defendants had been stolen, and received cash in exchange for the stolen goods.

Today, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the location on 47th Street in Manhattan where Nezhinskiy and Villar operate a pawn shop and seized large quantities of suspected stolen property, including dozens of high-end watches and jewelry. Law enforcement also recovered large quantities of cash and marijuana. Simultaneously, law enforcement executed a search warrant at storage units belonging to Nezhinskiy in New Jersey where an additional cache of suspected stolen property was found. From inside Nezhinskiy’s storage units, law enforcement recovered large quantities of luxury goods and clothing, including high-end handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork and power tools consistent with those commonly used in burglaries and opening safes.

The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of receipt of stolen goods, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison.

The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division and the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Maffei, Katherine P. Onyshko and Sean M. Sherman are in charge of the prosecution.