2 men accused of acting as middlemen in pro-athlete burglaries plead not guilty
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Two men charged with acting as the middlemen to sell property stolen from professional athletes and other wealthy homeowners pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court.
Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar were charged with conspiracy and receipt of stolen property in connection with a rash of burglaries that police have blamed on South American theft crews.
Prosecutors said they are still sorting through the spoils of search warrants at the men's pawn shop in the Diamond District and various storage units in New Jersey but said the men likely possessed $5 million in stolen property, including wine, art, jewelry, watches, handbags and sports memorabilia.
"They have created a marketplace that promotes residential burglaries of homes across the United States," prosecutor Michael Maffei said.
Prosecutors sought pretrial detention but Magistrate Judge Lara Eshkenazi agreed to release Nezhinskiy on a $1 million bond secured by his 78-year-old father, who works two jobs and owns two condo's in New Jersey, and told the judge that he was willing to put up his medical license and equity.
Nezhinskiy will not go free right away but remain detained until his father obtains liens on his property. Once he is released, Nezhinskiy must remain on home confinement.
The judge agreed to consider releasing Villar but said the $250,000 bond suggested was too low.
"I think you need to come up with a better package," Eshkanazi said.
Villar's wife, a New York City public school teacher, agreed to secure at least part of the bond but her husband must remain detained until he comes up with more money.
(ABC News contributed to this report.)
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