Diamond District Fence Sentenced to 46 Months in Connection with Large Scale Transnational Stolen Property Operation

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 46 months in prison for conspiring to receive stolen property that had been transported in interstate commerce. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Judge Kuntz ordered the defendant forfeit $2,500,000 and restitution will be determined at a later date. The defendant and his co-defendant Juan Villar pled guilty in July 2025. Villar was sentenced in February 2026 to 46 months' incarceration along with restitution and forfeiture.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) announced the sentence.

"Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar used the cover of their Diamond District store to encourage, coordinate, and profit from theft groups conducting burglaries nationwide," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "The defendants tried to make a quick buck by buying stolen valuables from transnational criminals, and in doing so, bought themselves lengthy prison sentences."

"Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar facilitated the sale of stolen goods obtained from criminals for profit. The goods stolen came from across the United States, impacting victims nationwide. The FBI and its partners have worked diligently to bring charges against these two individuals for their unlawful activity," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

"What started with criminals trying to commit burglaries in Nassau County, has now ended in multiple arrests and guilty pleas; including these defendants," stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder. "When you try and buy stolen goods that were taken from hard working people, we will work with our great partners to find you, and hold you accountable. Today, that accountability came."

"For years, the defendant participated in a large-scale transnational operation of brazen burglaries," stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. "This international pipeline targeted residential homes and commercial vendors to receive and purchase stolen property, contributing to dangerous criminal activities. Thanks to the work of our detectives, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, we have shut down this enterprise, and this sentencing ensures those responsible are being held accountable."

Nezhinskiy and Villar regularly served as "fences" for burglary crews from South America, who traveled around the United States, including the Eastern District of New York, committing burglaries, typically targeting wealthier neighborhoods in Nassau County and elsewhere or jewelry vendors, and stealing luxury accessories. According to court filings and statements Nezhinskiy made at his earlier guilty plea, between approximately 2020 and 2025, he conspired with Villar and others to receive and purchase stolen property, including jewelry, watches, handbags, and assorted luxury items that had been stolen and transported into New York. Nezhinskiy and Villar's operation, which consisted of purchasing stolen property from these crews for cash, provided an essential market for the stolen goods, perpetuating the dangerous criminal activities of the burglary and theft crews composed largely of foreign nationals. Evidence linked Nezhinskiy and Villar to residential and commercial burglaries around the country, including burglaries from at least one professional athlete.

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, with the assistance of Special Assistant United States Attorney Marsalla M. King with respect to forfeiture matters.

The Defendants:

DIMITRIY NEZHINSKIY
Age: 44
North Bergen, New Jersey

JUAN VILLAR
Age: 48
Queens, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-40 (WFK)