In recent memory, professional athletes have been robbed time and time again. They’re treated no differently than celebrities, as all the thieves care about is money. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, Joe Burrow was on the wrong side of theft last December.
While paying a game on the road, Burrow’s home was broken into. Around $300,000 in items were stolen, as a shocking development in the case has been revealed.
New York Pawn Shop Owner Admits to Buying/Selling Joe Burrow’s Stolen Items
Burrow would have loved for this news to come out sooner, but the pawn shop owner wasn’t going to out himself. Now, he has pleaded guilty according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York. How Burrow’s items got from Cincinnati to New York remains a mystery.
Some of the items that Dimitriy Nezhinskiy purchased were high-end watches, jewelry, and handbags. Nezhinskiy knew that he was purchasing stolen property, and he had every intention of selling it.
A national burglary crew went on a tirade last year that included other professional athletes such as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Luka Doncic, and Mike Conley. Their limits knew no bounds as they didn’t care what sport these athletes competed in, they just knew they were loaded with money.
Obviously, it was a well thought out plan as they committed crimes while Burrow was playing the Dallas Cowboys. To make matters worse, the game was in Dallas. Even if Nezhinskiy didn’t take part in the home invasion, he still willingly purchased and sold items from “Athlete 5” as the FBI identified Burrow.
Legal Repercussions and Comments from Those Involved
Jessica Tisch, New York City Police Commissioner, read a statement on July 18, “This defendant ran a black-market pipeline, buying stolen luxury goods from organized theft crews that targeted homes and businesses. It was a deliberate operation that helped professional burglars prey on innocent people.”
“For more than five years, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy established a demand for stolen merchandise, which allowed South American Theft Groups to profit from repeated burglaries. His purchases perpetuated a ripple of criminality targeting residences and business across the country,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia read in a statement of their own.
Three men were arrested with one of them being linked to Burrow’s incident. Back in February, they were indicted by a federal grand jury in Cincinnati. In total, six arrests have been made linked to the South American theft groups.
Now, Nezinskiy faces a maximum of five years in prison. According to District Judge William F. Kuntz, he also faces the restitution of approximately $2.5 million and forfeiture of more than $2.5 million. Even though he legally resides in the United States, he is from the country of Georgia which means the federal charges he face could result in deportation.
Last June, the pawn shops co-owner, Juan Villar, pleaded guilty to the same charge. Villar is awaiting his sentence. It’s known that these two have worked together since 2020 to purchase such stolen goods.
With all of this behind him, Burrow’s season with the Bengals opens on Sunday, September 7. Cincinnati heads to Cleveland before hosting their home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 14.
Shocking Development in Joe Burrow’s December Burglary