New Jersey man arrested in fencing operation allegedly has links to Joe Burrow burglary

Two men who were believed to person ties to a drawstring of burglaries successful the U.S., including astatine a celebrated pro athlete’s home successful Ohio, were arrested connected Tuesday, officials announced.

Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar were charged with "with conspiracy to person stolen spot related to their purchasing of stolen goods that traveled crossed authorities lines," the Eastern District of New York said successful a quality release. The 2 men volition beryllium arranged connected Wednesday.

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Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks connected earlier the crippled against the Indianapolis Colts astatine Paycor Stadium connected Dec. 10, 2023 successful Cincinnati, Ohio.  (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Nezhinskiy, of North Bergen, New Jersey and Villar, of Queens, New York, were accused of acting arsenic "fences" for South American-based transgression groups who traveled astir the U.S. to perpetrate burglaries targeting luxury items. The 2 were accused of being linked to the "prolific burglar" Bryan Leandro Herrera Maldonado, who officials said committed 16 burglaries successful the U.S. betwixt 2019 and 2020.

Officials said Nezhinskiy was linked to astatine slightest 2 members of a unit who were allegedly progressive successful the Dec. 9, 2024, burglary of a "high-profile jock successful Ohio." Sources told Fox News Channel the jock successful question is Cincinnati Bengals prima backmost Joe Burrow.

Law enforcement officials executed a hunt warrant for a pawn store the 2 men allegedly operated successful New York City’s Diamond District. Authorities "seized ample quantities of suspected stolen property, including dozens of high-end watches and jewelry. Law enforcement besides recovered ample quantities of currency and marijuana," officials said.

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The FBI seal is displayed connected a podium earlier a quality league astatine the agency's office successful Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Another hunt warrant was executed successful a retention installation successful New Jersey allegedly belonging to Nezhinskiy. Officials said "large quantities of luxury goods and clothing, including high-end handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork and powerfulness tools accordant with those commonly utilized successful burglaries and opening safes" were recovered.

Nezhinskiy was arrested successful New Jersey, and Villar was arrested successful New York, officials said.

The arrests came weeks aft 4 Chilean nationals were arrested successful transportation with the burglary to Burrow’s location connected Dec. 9, 2024. At the clip of the arrest, authorities recovered "an aged LSU garment and Bengals hat, believed to beryllium stolen from the December 9, 2024 burglary successful Hamilton County, Ohio," which is wherever Burrow’s location is located.

The hunt of the conveyance the suspects were successful besides discovered "two Husky automatic halfway punch tools wrapped successful a cloth towel." The instrumentality has been utilized by the South American Theft Group, according to authorities. 

Burrow’s location was burglarized portion helium was successful Dallas facing the Cowboys. Police were called to Burrow’s location by Olivia Ponton, a exemplary and societal media influencer who was identified arsenic Burrow’s worker successful the incidental report.

Burrow discussed the break-in a fewer days aft its occurrence during a media availability, wherever helium stressed the trouble of surviving a beingness wherever his idiosyncratic accusation is successful the public’s eye. 

"So evidently everybody has heard what has happened. I consciousness similar my privateness has been violated successful much ways than one. And mode much is already retired determination than I would privation retired determination and that I attraction to share, truthful that's each I got to accidental astir that," Burrow began.

Cincinnati Bengals backmost Joe Burrow (9) throws a walk against the Dallas Cowboys successful the archetypal 4th astatine AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: (Tim Heitman-Imagn Images)

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"We unrecorded a nationalist life, and 1 of my slightest favourite parts of that is the deficiency of privacy. And that has been hard for maine to woody with my full career. Still learning. But I recognize it's the beingness that we choose. Doesn't marque it immoderate easier to woody with."

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